A police car patrols on the street to send the evacuation alerts as super typhoon Ragasa approaches in Macao, south China, Sept. 23, 2025. (Photo by Cheong Kam Ka/Xinhua)
MACAO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Tuesday at 5 p.m. hoisted the No. 8 tropical cyclone signal as super typhoon Ragasa was approaching.
Macao declared an "immediate prevention stage" earlier, with an orange storm surge warning currently in effect and a red warning expected at 6 p.m.. The SAR also activated the "Low-lying Areas Evacuation Plan for Storm Surge during Typhoon" to safeguard the life and property of citizens and tourists.
The Macao Civil Protection Operations Center said that evacuation alerts were sent via emergency speakers installed at 140 surveillance camera poles across elevated and low-lying areas.
All schools and educational institutions were told to stop educational activities. Public land transport services were suspended. Macao's four cross-sea bridges and the Lotus Bridge will be closed at 6:30 p.m., according to the civil protection newsflash.
In the city's low-lying Inner Harbor area, shopkeepers and residents were on high alert. Some had installed person-height flood barriers at their doorways, while others had set up support structures indoors and moved goods to higher places.
Wong, who runs a shop on Rua de Cinco de Outubro, told Xinhua that he began organizing his items several days ago. "The typhoon safety messages have been getting through quite well this time. We made a lot of preparations in advance -- first clearing out the upstairs space, then moving our goods up there," he said.
According to the SMG, Ragasa will continue moving in a west-northwest direction over the next two days, gradually approaching Macao. Winds may reach hurricane force of 12 or above for a sustained period, accompanied by persistent heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds, the bureau noted. ■
Citizens are seen at an emergency shelter center as super typhoon Ragasa approaches in Macao, south China, Sept. 23, 2025. (Photo by Cheong Kam Ka/Xinhua)
People install flood barriers at a doorway as super typhoon Ragasa approaches in Macao, south China, Sept. 23, 2025. (Photo by Cheong Kam Ka/Xinhua)
Citizens are seen at an emergency shelter center as super typhoon Ragasa approaches in Macao, south China, Sept. 23, 2025. (Photo by Cheong Kam Ka/Xinhua)
