MACAO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- All the departments of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government have been fully mobilized since Saturday to take precautionary measures for incoming super typhoon Mangkhut, the government spokesman said Saturday.
The marine administrative department will issue a red storm surge warning at 9 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), a warning in its fourth-level in situations where floodwater levels are likely to be 1.5 meters to 2.5 meters above road level, government spokesman Chan Chi Ping said.
After the red storm surge warning, the government's evacuation plan for low-lying areas would be activated as approximately 21,000 people living in areas prone to serious flooding will be evacuated to safe places.
The meteorological authorities are likely to issue typhoon signal No. 8 Sunday morning and it is likely that typhoon signal No. 10, the highest category in the city's typhoon warning system, would be hoisted on Sunday afternoon.
Chan added that the government has already prepared for the most challenging possible scenarios regarding the impact on the community. And it had the capability to adapt to and handle any situation.
Moreover, the network of 16 emergency shelters across Macao will also open at 9 p.m. local time to host an aggregate of 24,000 people. Senior citizens and people with limited mobility will be able to use a transport service to a nearby shelter.
To avoid flooding in underground car parking areas, 15 public car parks will be closed within an hour of the issuance of Signal No. 8. The government has already arrange more than 1,800 free spaces for private vehicles and motorcycles. Hotel resorts in Macao have provided another 2,770 spaces for free.
