During an inspection of the Typhoon Soudelor Central Disaster Emergency Operation Center this morning, Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated that Soudelor had severely devastated the Wulai mountain areas in New Taipei City. Currently the top priority is for relevant agencies to collaborate with the New Taipei City Government to conduct a thorough search and find out if any person is missing. The central government's various agencies will extend assistance whenever and wherever it is needed.
Within the Wulai areas, sections of Provincial Highway No. 9A were cut off by landslides or their roadbeds caved in due to torrential rain, resulting in communication disruptions. The premier instructed the Directorate General of Highways to pave a contingency passage by about noon today to facilitate the passage of rescue vehicles and equipment.
The premier pointed out communication had been completely disrupted between kilometer 10.1 of Provincial Highway No. 9A and the Fushan area. He therefore instructed the National Fire Agency along with Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. to first revive the area's communication by installing small base stations in order to help rescue personnel keep in contact. In particular, a communication spot must be established at the Fushan area to connect with the Wulai District Office. The premier also tasked the Ministry of National Defense to provide relevant communication equipment and facilities so as to establish contact with the "outside world."
Furthermore, the premier pointed out that Typhoon Soudelor-triggered landslides buried the entire indigenous community of Heliu in Fuxing District of Taoyuan City. Fortunately, all the community's residents had been evacuated. The premier instructed the Council of Indigenous Peoples to work with relevant government agencies and experts to conduct a scrupulous appraisal of whether the destroyed site is still suitable for reconstruction or the community should relocate to a safer area.
As for removing debris from the site, the premier tasked the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau to avert water contamination by preventing quarry trucks from entering the nearby reservoir area.