Key Moments:
- Authorities have mandated all Macau casinos to close once the No. 8 typhoon signal is raised, reversing earlier guidelines.
- Super Typhoon Ragasa’s approach has triggered multiple warnings, including anticipated storm surges potentially raising water levels by nearly five meters.
- Historical closures during severe weather have been rare, including the 33-hour shutdown in 2018 and a nine-hour disruption in 2023.
Immediate Casino Closures Amid Storm Warnings
Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) has declared that all casinos will be required to cease operations when the No. 8 typhoon warning is activated. This update overturns previous instructions that required closures only at more severe warning levels. Operators must ensure that both staff and visitors vacate casino premises within two hours before the signal comes into force.
The move was made in response to the imminent landfall of Super Typhoon Ragasa. The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau confirmed that a No. 8 signal would be issued at 5 pm (UTC+08:00) and forecast a high likelihood of a No. 9 upgrade by midnight, with the potential for maximum No. 10 conditions in the early hours of Wednesday.
Coordinated Emergency Preparations
Emergency response meetings involving the DICJ, the six licensed gaming concessionaires, and the Labour Affairs Bureau have focused on disaster readiness. Priorities include safe evacuation, employee safety, and systematic storm protocols.
Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Yip underscored the need for gaming operators to begin preparations and adopt flexible staffing arrangements. Staff are to return only after safe operating conditions are restored.
Macau’s Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai has also led a cross-departmental meeting within the Civil Protection Operations Centre. A three-phase plan encompassing disaster prevention, active response, and recovery has been implemented. Projections from Chinese and Hong Kong meteorological agencies warn that Super Typhoon Ragasa will pass within 100 kilometers of Macau, bringing destructive winds and significantly heightened flood risks.
Storm Surge and Flood Outlook
The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau has already enacted a No. 3 signal and will issue an orange storm surge warning at 1 pm Tuesday, escalating to a red warning later in the day. Such alerts anticipate strong possibilities of coastal flooding. Authorities caution that surges may increase water levels by nearly five meters, enough to flood the first floors of numerous buildings. In anticipation, ferry and transportation services have been halted.
| Typhoon Warning Signal | Expected Issue Time | Potential Impact |
|---|---|---|
| No. 8 | 5 pm (UTC+08:00) | Mandatory casino closures, evacuation protocols |
| No. 9 | Midnight (forecasted) | Increased storm severity |
| No. 10 | Early morning Wednesday (possible) | Maximum alert, destructive winds and flooding |
Review of Past Disruptions and Preparedness Strategies
Complete casino closures due to adverse weather have historically been rare in Macau. The city shut down all casinos for 33 hours during Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, marking a first in history. A nine-hour closure was enforced during Typhoon Saola in 2023. Pandemic-related measures also resulted in suspensions lasting 15 days in February 2020 and one week in July 2022.
Efforts to enhance early warning and disaster response were intensified following Typhoon Hato in August 2017, which caused fatalities, hundreds of injuries, and substantial economic losses amounting to MOP$12.55 billion ($1.57 billion), as well as widespread power outages affecting casino operations. The city has since established comprehensive civil protection protocols, formalizing cooperative efforts among public and private stakeholders.
- Author
Daniel Williams
