Macau’s Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) has announced that it will downgrade the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 to Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 3 p.m. today. The observatory hoisted Signal No. 8 at 9 p.m. yesterday.
According to an SMG statement, Severe Tropical Cyclone “Tapah” made landfall in Taishan City, Guangdong Province, earlier today and is gradually moving away from Macau. The bureau added that locally, the winds will gradually weaken in the afternoon. Therefore, Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 3 will be hoisted at 3 p.m.
However, the weather station cautioned that, affected by the outer rainbands of Tapah, there will be occasional heavy showers and thunderstorms, and the winds in Macau will still occasionally reach Force 7 to 8 with strong gusts.
Meanwhile, Macau’s civil protection authorities announced this afternoon that two dozen incidents had been reported since the hoisting of Signal No. 8 last night, including fallen or swinging signboards and canopies, as well as collapsed trees and lampposts, or those on the verge of collapsing. The authorities also announced that civil service bureaus, other public entities and schools will remain closed for the rest of the day. Neither will banks open this afternoon.
About 100 departures and arrivals at the local airport have been cancelled due to Tapah, the authorities said, noting that public bus, the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) service and Macau's ferry services with Hong Kong and Guangdong will be resumed gradually this afternoon. Only minor flooding has been reported. According to the authorities, 12 people had sought refuge from the cyclone in the government’s emergency shelters since last night. No injuries were reported.
According to the authorities, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the four Macau-Taipa bridges, as well as the Macau-Hengqin Bridge, will gradually open to vehicular traffic after the lowering of Signal No. 8.
