Macao issued the second maximum flood alert on Friday, ahead of the approach of Saola, which could be the most powerful typhoon to hit the region in more than 70 years, according to Chinese meteorological services.
The flood warning changed from orange to red, in which the water level on the sidewalk is expected to reach values between 1.5 and 2.5 meters, at a time when Macao is in a state of immediate prevention.
The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Services (SMG) has already announced that the probability of typhoon signal 9 being issued this afternoon (afternoon in Lisbon) is “high”, the second highest on the alert scale, admitting as ” Moderate” that the chance increases to 10 next Saturday morning.
The borders have been closed and the public transport service has already been suspended, as well as road traffic on the bridges.
The authorities announced the closure of schools and parking lots and canceled more than a hundred flights at the Macao international airport.
The authorities also reported the suspension of the operation of most public services and the opening of 17 emergency reception centers scattered throughout the city, which have received more than 60 people so far.
The Consulate General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong also announced the temporary closure, until the alert level drops to level 3.
A high alert has been issued in mainland China. Chinese meteorological services have already indicated that Saola could become the strongest typhoon since 1949 to hit the Pearl River Delta, which includes cities such as Macao, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
The tropical storm warning scale is made up of signals 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10, whose emission depends on the proximity of the storm and the intensity of the wind.
Flood warnings have five levels: blue, yellow, orange, red, and black.
In September 2018, Typhoon Mangkhut caused 40 injuries and severe flooding in the territory. A year earlier, Hato caused 10 deaths and 240 injuries.
Source: TSF
