Taiwan Marks National Disaster Prevention Day|災害應變體制改革 總統:一年後驗收

Sept. 21 is National Disaster Prevention Day in Taiwan. This year, the Ministry of the Interior marked the occasion with a large-scale earthquake disaster response drill. President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the drill and said recent floods and torrential rain have shown Taiwan's disaster response system needs to be further strengthened.


Rescue personnel and equipment from all parts of Taiwan have amassed at Taipei Songshan Airport. They are set to be loaded onto military planes and trucks and transported to different areas for disaster relief purposes. This was part of a magnitude 6.6 earthquake disaster response drill organized by the Ministry of the Interior to mark National Disaster Prevention Day on Sept. 21. President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the drill and posed for photos with search and rescue personnel and dogs. She had this to say about disaster preparedness.

We must plan how to respond accordingly to unpredictable torrential rain and carry out disaster prevention work. We also need to strengthen our communication of disaster risks. These comprehensive reviews and reforms will be completed within one year's time. We will inspect the results during next year's National Disaster Prevention Day.

Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the 921 earthquake, as well as the 10th anniversary of Typhoon Morakot. The president says Taiwan must solemnly face the risk of large-scale disasters in light of extreme weather. National Disaster Prevention Day was not only marked with drills, but also by activities to strengthen cross-ministry coordination. At 9:21 a.m., the Central Weather Bureau sent out an earthquake warning text message.

The message stated that it was part of exercises for the 2018 National Disaster Prevention Day. There were also audio alerts urging the public to conform to the exercises by lying down, finding cover and staying in place. Another text message was sent out at 10 a.m. This time, it was a test for a tsunami warning. It was only sent out to coastal area residents.

At 9:59 a.m., all television channels interrupted their broadcasts to switch over Public Television Service, which was airing disaster prevention information in an effort to raise public awareness about disaster prevention.