With Tropical Storm Kong-Rey approaching the Taiwan area, Premier Jiang Yi-huah instructed Executive Yuan Deputy Secretary-General Chien Tai-lang to convene a meeting of government agencies today to share the latest meteorological analysis and coordinate local and national preparation efforts.
The meeting was held at the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) at 6 p.m. and attended by representatives from the Executive Yuan's Office of Disaster Management, Ministry of the Interior (MOI), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Council of Agriculture (COA), CWB and National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction.
Kong-Rey is the 15th storm of this Pacific typhoon season. According to the CWB, a sea warning is expected to be announced tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., and due to a high-pressure system in the Pacific, a movement of the northbound storm in a westerly direction, toward Taiwan, cannot be ruled out.
At the meeting, Deputy Secretary-General Chien reminded officials to make sure that local governments take all necessary precautions, such as clearing underground sewage systems, executing disaster prevention measures for dams, water facilities and construction sites, and securing vulnerable roads and bridges as well as restoration projects on sites damaged by Typhoon Soulik last month.
Chien asked the COA to ensure that fishery radio stations broadcast safety advisories to vessels at sea. The MOI should order local governments to undertake preventive evacuations and disaster notifications as well as inform mountain entry applicants of the dangers of hiking and climbing during the storm, he said. The deputy secretary-general also instructed the MOI and MOEA to notify local governments to take preventative measures against seawater intrusion and prepare sandbags and water pumps in case of flooding, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas.
The Executive Yuan asked the CWB to stay abreast of Kong-Rey's movements, keep in close contact with disaster prevention units and encourage the public to prepare well for the storm.
The tragic drowning of five students in the Er-ren river mouth in Kaohsiung City's Qieding District coincides with the typhoon's approach, and the MOI should notify local governments to discourage trips to the beach for pleasure during the alert period, the deputy secretary-general said. He also personally reminded the public to check weather reports before commencing outdoor activities, cooperate with the government's preventative measures and carefully prepare for the storm to ensure the safety of their lives and property.