Shortly following the earthquake that struck Hualien and Taitung counties on Sunday, Premier Su Tseng-chang visited the Central Emergency Operations Center at 4 p.m. and visited again with President Tsai Ing-wen at 8 p.m. to monitor the disaster situation and ongoing relief efforts. The premier expressed his deepest respect and gratitude for the medical, police, firefighter and other relief personnel who immediately traveled to disaster sites to carry out rescue operations. He directed frontline workers to keep an eye on their own safety and to promptly report updates in the local situation to the Central Emergency Operations Center.
The premier also instructed ministries and agencies to accelerate relief efforts, as well as activate related precautions and early warning systems for mountainous areas and other regions at risk for future earthquake damage. Calling for the best possible care for disaster victims, the premier ordered relevant agencies to begin preparing the medical resources and manpower that will be required by impacted areas, and assist local governments in follow-up relief efforts.
Earthquakes are frequent in Taiwan, the premier said, and the government never takes them lightly. He directed government colleagues to continue to man their posts, practice horizontal communication, and maintain a complete, timely and accurate grasp of the disaster situation to protect the lives and health of Taiwan's people and avoid even greater disaster.