Typhoon Hato has cost Macau almost MOP$11.5 billion in economic losses, including MOP$8.3 billion in direct losses, according to the government’s new Commission for Reviewing and Monitoring the Improvements of the Response Mechanism to Major Disasters.
Macau Chief Executive and committee chairman Chui Sai On announced the figures at a press conference on Wednesday in which he outlined new measures aimed at improving the city’s response mechanism in case of public emergencies, including the strengthening of infrastructure to resolve flooding issues and ensuring the stability of power and water supplies.
The commission’s current estimation has total losses city-wide at MOP$11.47 billion and counting, with MOP$8.31 billion worth of direct losses and MOP$3.16 billion worth of indirect losses. The preliminary figures do not include the potential losses of Macau’s six gaming concessionaires due to the temporary closure of facilities.
Two of Macau’s waterside properties, Legend Palace and Ponte 16, still have some gaming areas inactive as a result of damage caused by the storm.
Typhoon Hato, which struck on 23 August, was the strongest recorded storm in Macau for 53 years and resulted in the deaths of 10 people, with another 240 injured.
The Chief Executive also announced the establishment of another committee to investigate whether public departments and civil servants had acted appropriately during preparations for Typhoon Hato and in relation to relief work done in its aftermath. The new committee will be headed by Mai Man Ieng, an Assistant Prosecutor-General.
Macau’s Commission Against Corruption has already launched an investigation into the internal management of the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau amid allegations it had failed to issue adequate storm warnings due to concerns over its potential impact on the city’s gaming industry.
Mr Chui said the government has authorized a range of construction projects to increase the height of the existing anti-flood embankment system across the city and will speed up procedures regarding the building of further pumping facilities at the Inner Harbour in order to enhance the city’s capacity for dealing with storm water.
The Chief Executive will also visit Guangdong Province to discuss suggestions from the State Council and ministries and departments of the Central Government regarding a government proposal for the cross-boundary flood system.
Other measures to be implemented by the Macau SAR Government include building more storage tanks in upland areas across the city to increase water reserves to the equivalent of 12 hours worth of public consumption.
Mr Chui said that, as of 3 September, the government had received approximately 980 opinions and suggestions regarding the topic of an appropriate response mechanism system in the event of a crisis.
