Pakhar tropical storm to affect Macau most by midday Sunday

After Signal 3 was hoisted last night (Saturday), the Weather Bureau (SMG) advised that tropical storm Pakhar might be upgraded to Signal 8 between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. this morning. The winds will intensify during the night and early morning and probably peak at around midday Sunday, the forecast says, when the eye of the tropical storm Pahkar is predicted to be some 100-150 km off the coast of Macau to the southwest.

The SMG yesterday warned that that if the situation deteriorated this morning, the warning signal might be upgraded to 8. The bureau also alerted people in downtown Macau (Peninsula) for the possibility of flooding in lower areas of the city due to the rise of the tides.

Meanwhile, the government has announced that four public swimming pools are open for citizens in need of showers. They are: Centro Desportivo de Tamagnini Barbosa (Rua de Lei Pou Chon), Complexo Desportivo do Colégio D. Bosco (Est. Ferreira do Amaral n.o 6), Centro Desportivo Lin Fong (Avenida Almirante Lacerda) e Piscina Estoril (Estrada da Vitória). These pools will be open today from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Rescue teams were still looking for missing people yesterday, namely at the underground car park in St Lawrence’s Market where people may be trapped inside.

[Updated at 1 a.m. Sunday]