At today's Cabinet meeting, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said although the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) terminated land and sea warnings for Tropical Storm Trami at 8:30 am today, a southwestern air current in the storm's wake could still bring torrential rain to Taiwan's central and southern mountainous regions. Hence, the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) will maintain a heightened state of alertness (Level 2). Other central and local authorities must remain vigilant as well, Jiang stressed.
Tropical Storm Trami left Taiwan at around 2:30 am after sweeping quickly across northern areas. "While it brought enormous precipitation, thankfully it caused no major casualties," Jiang said. He thanked ministries and local governments for their thorough preparation for the storm as well as their all-out efforts to reduce and relieve the damage it caused.
The CWB predicts the southwesterly air current triggered by the storm will affect Taiwan's weather systems for the next 24 hours. The CEOC will remain at high awareness until normality is restored.
The premier urged disaster reduction personnel of central and local governments not to take the potential downpour lightly. He also asked local governments to encourage evacuees to wait patiently until after the wind and rain have stopped and the roads have become safe again before returning to their homes.
The premier instructed the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Ministry of Economic Affairs to quickly repair damaged roads and utility lines to bring citizens' lives back to normal, especially in four counties or municipalities bordering the sea, including Jianshi Township of Hsinchu County and Miaoli County, where upstream pipes have ruptured and caused water shortages.
"Typhoons attack Taiwan every year, and each one tests the response capabilities of the government. Although the warnings for Trami have ended, we are still going through a period of flooding, so each agency should maintain vigilance. Furthermore, we must respond strongly to the threats brought by typhoons and all other natural disasters in the future," Jiang concluded.