President Lai pledges to strengthen disaster prevention system

2024/09/24

President Lai Ching-te said Sept. 21 that the government is committed to strengthening the national disaster prevention system, raising public awareness and working with partners at home and abroad to build a more resilient society.
 
The president made the remarks while visiting the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan in the central city of Taichung on National Disaster Prevention Day. The day has been observed since 2000 on the anniversary of a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that hit the central county of Nantou Sept. 21, 1999.
 
Lai thanked rescue teams from countries including Canada, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the U.S. for the immediate assistance they provided in 1999. The people of Taiwan have shown great perseverance as they’ve recovered from the calamity, he said, adding that the country continues to learn and improve measures to reduce impacts from such natural disasters.
 
The government has improved the seismic safety standards of buildings and set up earthquake warning systems, Lai said. The country has additionally held drills every year and spared no effort to promote disaster prevention education, he added.
 
Taiwan’s rescue teams have earned international acclaim, Lai said, noting that the teams' 53 rescue canines are accredited to international standards. He lauded their rescue work in Türkiye after last year’s earthquake and added that the establishment of the Presidential Office National Climate Change Committee and the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee will further enable the country to tackle natural disasters.
 
Echoing Lai’s remarks, Deputy Education Minister Chang Liao Wan-chien said the Ministry of Education has collaborated with ministries and agencies to promote disaster prevention education. According to the MOE, a series of disaster preparedness activities are underway in September, including an exhibition running until Sept. 30 at Taipei City-based National Taiwan Science Education Center. 


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)