As Super Typhoon Ragasa inundated the streets of Macao with knee-deep seawater, residents turned the severe weather into an unexpected opportunity, wading out with nets and bags to catch fish swept inland by the storm surge on Wednesday.
The city hoisted its highest typhoon warning, the No. 10 signal, as the storm passed close by, bringing hurricane-force winds and significant flooding to low-lying areas.
While the typhoon prompted mass evacuations and power cuts for public safety, online videos captured a surreal scene: dozens of residents fishing along Avenida do Almirante Lacerda and Rua da Doca Seca as floodwaters began to recede.
The “fishermen” employed an array of equipment, from canvas bags and fishing nets to more improvised transport like bicycles and even incubators to carry their catch.
Some parents were seen bringing young children along to collect the unexpected seafood bounty, with some reportedly making a "good harvest" near the historic A-Ma Temple area.
Despite the opportunistic atmosphere, Macao’s authorities had repeatedly urged residents to stay indoors during the most dangerous phase of the storm.
The city's Civil Protection Operations Centre reported numerous incidents, including fallen trees and scaffolding, with four people injured during the typhoon. As a safety precaution, the power utility company cut electricity to some flooded zones.
The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau later lowered the Storm Surge Warning from Red to Blue in the afternoon, indicating that water levels had subsided to below 0.5 meters. The No. 10 typhoon signal was also downgraded to a No. 8 signal at 4pm local time as Ragasa moved away from the city.
