Volunteers of Women's General Association of Macao clean a road in Macao, south China, Aug. 24, 2017. Bringing heavy gusts and rainstorms, Hato destroyed more than 4,000 trees in Macao on Wednesday. (Xinhua)
(ECNS)-- Chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chui Sai On has vowed to minimize the impact of damage caused by typhoon Hato, while the city's top weatherman tendered his resignation on Thursday amid chaos and confusion resulting from the storm.
Fong Soi-kun, director of the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau, stepped down Thursday after one of the strongest typhoons on record killed at least nine people, injured more than 200 residents, and left more than half the city without water and power.
Chui apologized for the city's typhoon response Thursday, saying "we have to recognize that what has been done was not enough. And there is room to improve."
Chui also said Macao authorities were making every effort to help things return to normal and that there were plans to introduce subsidy programs soon.
The city would also review its current response system, information sharing procedures and safety education, said Chui.
Power was out for hours in the resort city's casinos and government buildings. Schools and businesses were also closed for the day.
