The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, directed Macao’s civil protection management team to employ the utmost effort in responding to any adverse situations linked to Typhoon Higos.

Mr Ho stressed the need to ensure a stable supply of water and of electricity. He also said the health authorities had to ensure they had sufficient staff available in case of any typhoon-related, public-health issues. He directed the civil protection management team to mitigate the effects of any flooding in low-lying areas, that might be caused by either storm conditions or a storm-related surge of water from coastal to inland areas.

The Chief Executive reviewed Macao’s storm-condition preparations during a meeting held in the late evening on Tuesday (18 August) at the Civil Protection Operations Centre, coinciding with Typhoon Signal No. 8 being issued.

The Centre had entered full operational mode with effect from 8.30pm on Tuesday, in order to coordinate the city’s response to the anticipated storm conditions. A Typhoon Signal No. 9 was issued at 2.30am.

The civil protection system had made timely and sufficient preparations for the anticipated advent of the typhoon, notwithstanding that the storm’s previously-predicted path had changed in a short space of time, noted Mr Ho.

A number of necessary measures had been put in place, including evacuation – starting on Tuesday afternoon – of people living in low-lying areas, and closure of several public car parks located in parts of the city that were closest to sea level, he added.