The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison yesterday finished its work in helping return the typhoon-hit city to normal and the troops returned to their barracks, the Government Spokesperson’s Office (GPV) said in a statement yesterday.
The statement said that the local government and residents expressed “great respect” and “heartfelt gratitude” for the central government’s support and the PLA Macau Garrison’s dedication, adding that the soldiers’ contributions to the city’s relief efforts in the aftermath of the Typhoon Hato disaster have shown that the garrison has been a “strong protector” of Macau.
About 1,000 PLA soldiers began deployment from the garrison’s Taipa barracks on Friday morning to help with cleaning up the city, after the central government had approved a request by Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On for the PLA Macau Garrison to help in the aftermath of the onslaught by Hato, the fiercest typhoon in over five decades to hammer Macau.
After Hato slammed Macau on Wednesday, the ensuing huge floods in different districts across the Inner Harbour area, as well as in Fai Chi Kei and Ilha Verde resulted in huge piles of soaked rubbish accumulating in streets and alleys there, particularly in Rua de Cinco de Outubro and Rua do Almirante Sergio and their surrounding areas. Local security forces personnel, street cleaners and rubbish collection personnel, as well as scores of volunteers, had been struggling to remove the stinking rubbish piles.
Residents in the affected areas have told the media that the PLA soldiers swiftly cleared up most of the piles of rubbish. Most residents have praised and expressed gratitude for the PLA soldiers’ assistance, describing them as the city’s “saviours” and “heroes”.
The statement said that the garrison troops returned to their barracks at 8 a.m. yesterday after having assisted in the post-typhoon cleanup effort for three days and three nights.
The PLA soldiers removed many piles of rubbish, uprooted tree trunks and branches, as well as other detritus that blocked streets and
alleys, the statement pointed out.
It was the first time the local government had asked the garrison for help. The move was in line with a national law on the setting-up of the garrison in Macau, according to which the local government can request the garrison’s help to maintain public security or tackle a disaster.
The garrison was set up on December 20, 1999 when the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) was established. The garrison has a backup base in Zhuhai. Apart from its Taipa barracks, it also maintains a compound in Zape.
PLA Macau Garrison soldiers remove post-typhoon rubbish from the Inner Harbour area on Friday. Photo: Iong Tat Choi
