At the Cabinet meeting today Premier Lin Chuan instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and the Ministry of the Interior to proactively supervise local governments in enhancing building and fire-safety inspections of nursing homes and medical care institutions under their jurisdictions as well as enacting standard operating procedures, response mechanisms and emergency contact networks for accidents, emergencies and natural disasters in order to provide safe nursing and medical care environments.
Early yesterday morning a fire broke out at the Le Huo nursing home for the elderly in New Taipei City's Xindian District, taking six lives and causing injuries. The premier expressed his condolences to the victims and their families.
Aside from thoroughly carrying out safety maintenance and inspections of nursing homes and medical care institutions set up in residential or office complexes, relevant ministries should proactively oversee local governments in strengthening maintenance and fire safety inspections of buildings, Lin instructed.
The premier also tasked the Executive Yuan's Office of Disaster Management to ensure that the responsible agencies enhance building- and fire-safety inspections and maintenance along with disaster-response mechanisms for places where people congregate or large events are held, such as schools, cram schools, hospitals, theaters and department stores, in order to prevent such an incident from happening again and avoid the loss of lives and property.
The New Taipei City Government (NTCG) conducted onsite rescue immediately after the Le Huo fire broke out and later arranged settlements for the victims, the premier noted. He enjoined the MOHW to assist the NTCG in carrying out subsequent medical care services and condolence measures.