During his visit to the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) on the afternoon of June 12, Premier Sean Chen asked government ministries and agencies to take necessary measures to mitigate damage from torrential rains and to ensure that people were evacuated or relocated to safer places. He reminded agencies that despite waning rainfall, central and southern Taiwan are still vulnerable to southwesterly winds and a strong weather front.
The premier noted that while the number of days with rain per year has decreased in recent years, the amount of overall rainfall has been increasing with heavy downpours becoming more frequent.
"We must pay particular attention and be prepared against extreme precipitation," said the premier, who has reiterated in Cabinet meetings the importance of having effective drainage systems. He instructed relevant agencies to dispatch water pumps wherever needed and to offer full support to local governments.
Because the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) has predicted that newly formed Typhoon Guchol will likely approach Taiwan, agencies have been instructed to monitor its movements closely. The premier also gave orders that damaged roads be repaired as soon as possible, and that local governments ensure citizens access to daily necessities and food supplies.
After surveying the situation in southern Taiwan, Premier Chen noted that local authorities are putting their rescue and relief experiences to good use and have been following standard operating procedures. He expressed gratitude to all personnel involved, saying that the success of evacuation and disaster-mitigation efforts depended on their experience and sound judgment.
On June 12, the CEOC issued "red" mudslide alerts for 389 high-risk locations in Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Tainan City, Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County. Except for Yunlin and Miaoli counties, all of these local governments also conducted precautionary evacuations to clear people from unsafe areas. As of 3 p.m. that day, 4,954 people (including 4,730 residents and 224 tourists) had been evacuated, and 1,401 displaced residents were resettled in 41 temporary shelters.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Economic Affairs continues to work hard at issuing alerts for reservoir releases, monitoring river levels using information from the CWB, and notifying local governments and downstream residents to prepare themselves against rising waters. The ministry is also distributing water pumps to local governments as needed to minimize the flood damage.