Macau casinos to shut if super typhoon Ragasa warning rises above Signal No. 8 | Yogonet International
Summary
Macau authorities have said casinos will be ordered to close if tropical cyclone Ragasa’s warning rises above Signal No. 8. The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau warned Ragasa could pass within 100 kilometres of the city, producing water levels up to five metres, flooding two metres above roads and likely power outages.
Transport and services are being suspended: ferry services to the mainland have already halted, buses and light rail will be suspended if Signal No. 8 or higher is issued, and traffic on the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge was set to be stopped from 15:00 on Tuesday. Macau International Airport expects roughly 250 flights to be affected, with virtually no operations on 24 September and a reduction in flights after 16:00 on 23 September. Government officials urged residents to stock three days’ provisions and prepared flexible staff arrangements after the storm.
Key Points
- Casinos will close when Ragasa’s warning surpasses Signal No. 8, per Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip.
- Ragasa could come within 100 km of Macau, with water levels up to 5 metres and flooding up to 2 metres above roads.
- Public transport: ferries already stopped; buses and light rail to be suspended at Signal No. 8+; HZMB traffic suspended from 3pm Tuesday.
- Macau International Airport expects ~250 flights affected and virtually no operations on 24 September; services to resume gradually from 25 September.
- Authorities urge residents to prepare provisions and businesses to allow flexible staff attendance after the typhoon.
- Historical context: Typhoon Hato (2017) caused deaths and heavy losses; Typhoon Mangkhut (2018) forced a full casino shutdown and led to new civil protection measures.
- Analysts warn Ragasa could hit September gross gaming revenue, repeating disruptions seen in prior typhoon-affected months.
Context and relevance
This matters for operators, investors, staff and anyone with travel plans to the region. Macau’s casino sector is highly sensitive to weather disruptions: forced closures directly affect revenue, staffing and visitor flows. The government’s pre-emptive measures reflect lessons from Hato and Mangkhut — including the creation of a civil protection legal regime after 2018 — and underline increasing emphasis on contingency planning for severe weather events in the region.
Why should I read this?
Quick heads-up: if you work in gaming, travel or manage staff in Macau — this could hit receipts, flights and port links pretty hard. Casinos closing at Signal No. 8 is a big operational switch; if you’ve got people or money tied up in the market, keep an eye on updates and contingency plans.