At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Cho Jung-tai received a Ministry of the Interior (MOI) briefing on strengthening mobilization drills and international cooperation exercises during National Disaster Preparedness Month in September. The premier said climate change's effects have intensified in recent years, and to face the possible threat of large-scale compound disasters, Taiwan must consider risk even in times of safety, and bolster whole-of-society defense and resilience.
To honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the Jiji Earthquake on September 21, 1999, we must be vigilant and prepared, the premier said. The government thus designated September 21 as National Disaster Preparedness Day, during which earthquake drills are conducted nationwide with the goal of minimizing future casualties.
The earthquake which struck Hualien County on April 3 this year and July's Typhoon Gaemi both greatly impacted the nation. Fortunately, Taiwan's resilience and its ability to respond to earthquakes, strong winds and floods continue to improve. This is the result of the joint efforts of the central government, local governments, and all the people of Taiwan over a number of years, the premier said. He instructed the MOI and other ministries and agencies to work together with local governments to jointly implement mobilization preparations for potential disasters, and to continue to enhance the nation's overall disaster resilience and response capabilities.