MACAO, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) canceled all marine transport and most of flights before the passing of tropical storm Wipha, the SAR's government departments said on Wednesday.
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau hoisted Signal No. 8, the third highest level, at 2:00 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) and issued yellow storm surge warning.
It said that tropical storm Wipha is located about 340 km south of Macao and is now moving toward the Leizhou Peninsula of south China's Guangdong Province.
The Macao Marine and Water Bureau said all marine transport have been canceled and all ships inside Macao's ports should remain alert for severe weather condition.
The Macao International Airport said among the flights taking off from and heading for Macao, 54 have been canceled, six delayed, and 21 changed the time of departure or arrival.
Macao's buses also have stopped operation until the weather changes in favor of road condition.
Three bridges linking Macao Peninsula and Taipa-Coloane, and the Lotus Bridge that links Taipa-Coloane and Hengqin Island of Zhuhai, have been shut down due to safety concerns.
All classes in Macao's kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools and special education schools have been canceled.
Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On held a meeting on Wednesday afternoon with government deparments in Macao Civil Emergency Response Center to organize disaster prevention and relief.
