The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Cheong Weng Chon, today directed Macao’s civil protection management team to take all necessary steps in order to minimise the risk of adverse outcomes due to the advent of Typhoon Nangka.

At 7.30am on Tuesday, Typhoon Signal No. 8 was hoisted. Macao then activated its ‘immediate prevention’ measures and the Civil Protection Operations Centre was fully activated. It was the first time that Macao made use of the ‘immediate prevention’ protocols since the implementation on 15 September of the new civil protection law.

Mr Cheong gave his directive for action under Typhoon Signal No. 8 while at the Civil Protection Operations Centre to review Macao’s preparations in response to the advent of Typhoon Nangka.

Despite reports of relatively mild winds currently and normal outdoor conditions in the community, the civil protection management team should nonetheless stay highly vigilant regarding developments relating to the storm, Mr Cheong stressed.

Typhoon Nangka was the first typhoon to approach Macao since the Civil Protection Law had come into effect, Mr Cheong noted. The way the local authorities responded to the storm conditions was crucial in terms of optimising the operational capability of the civil protection system, he added.

During the meeting, the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr Leong Man Cheong, speaking in the capacity of acting commander of civil protection operations, reported the civil protection management team had made preparations well in advance of the typhoon. All involved in the civil protection system were ready to attend to their respective tasks. Plans for opening shelter centres and, if necessary, for operating a backup command centre, were already in place, he added.