台风来临 澳门首次关闭赌场

Macao shut down all its casinos in a historic first as typhoon Mangkhut approached on Sunday, with authorities warning the city would be hit by severe flooding.

周日，台风“芒克胡特”(Mangkhut)逼近之际，澳门关闭了所有赌场，这是历史上第一次。当局警告称，这座城市将遭受严重洪灾。

A statement from authorities late Saturday said the decision to shut Macao’s 42 casinos was approved by the city leader and agreed by gaming bosses.

有关部门上周六晚间发表声明说，关闭澳门42家赌场的决定得到了澳门领导人的批准，并得到了博彩业老板的同意。

"The suspension of gaming operations is for the safety of casino employees, visitors to the city and residents," the local government statement said.

当地政府声明称:“暂停博彩运营是为了赌场员工、游客和居民的安全。”

Casino staff told AFP that venues would be shut until further notice as the city raised its second highest storm warning.

赌场工作人员告诉法新社，随着该市发布第二大风暴警报，场馆将被关闭，直到收到下一步通知。

Macao’s weather bureau said the storm warning would be raised to the highest T10 level later Sunday with the worst rain and winds expected around midday local time (0400 GMT).

澳门气象局表示，风暴警报将于周日晚些时候升至T10的最高水平，预计当地时间中午(格林尼治时间凌晨4点)将迎来最严重的降雨和大风天气。

Shops and businesses were boarded up and protected by sandbags across the city and its streets, usually crowded with tourists, were deserted.

城市各处的商店和商铺都用沙袋围住并加以保护，而通常挤满了游客的街道则空无一人。

Last year the city was hit by typhoon Hato, the worst in over 50 years.

去年，这座城市遭遇了50多年来最严重的台风“Hato”。