Macau has lowered Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 (T8) to Strong Wind Signal No. 3 (T3) at 11 p.m. today, following severe floods triggered by the storm which, however, did not cause major damage.
The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) said in a statement at 11 p.m. that as Ragasa continued to move away from Macau, local winds would gradually moderate.
“However, under the influence of Ragasa’s outer rainband, the weather will still be unstable tomorrow, with frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms,” the bureau warned, also warning of occasional gusts.
At 11 p.m., Ragasa was estimated to be about 310 km west-southwest of Macau, forecast to move west at around 20 km/h towards the coast of western Guangdong Province. The bureau added that T3 would remain in effect for some time.
In response to Ragasa, which at its peak was officially classified as a super typhoon en route to Macau, the bureau had raised T3 at 5 a.m. yesterday (Tuesday), replaced it with T8 at 5 p.m. yesterday, raised T9 at 4 a.m. today (Wednesday), replaced it with T10 (its highest storm-warning signal) at 5:30 a.m. today, and then lowered it to T8 at 4 p.m. today.
Ragasa was the 11th tropical cycline to affect Macau so far this year.
This morning, floods caused by a storm surge triggered by Ragasa reached over 1.5 metres in some of Macau’s low-lying areas. The Civil Protection Operations Centre had evacuated numerous households from these areas yesterday in anticcipation of the storm surge. Power utility CEM suspended electricity supply to the most severely flooded regions earlier today for a period of time.
In a statement tonight, the centre reported 259 incidents induced by Ragasa, including fallen trees, scaffolding, lampposts, and billboards, as well as eight injuries. The statement did not elaborate on the injuries caused by the typhoon.
The government announced tonight that secondary schools and higher education institutions would resume classes tomorrow (Thursday), while the resumption of kindergarten, primary, and special education classes would depend on whether T3 is still in effect tomorrow morning. Banks will reopen tomorrow.
Meanwhile, an executive order issued by Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai tonight permitted Macau casinos operations from 2 a.m. tomorrow.
