To Prepare for Typhoon Bavi, Ministry of Economic Affairs Inspects Taipei's Flood Control Readiness with Relevant Agencies

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) The Ministry of Economic Affairs, along with the Ministry of the Interior and the Taipei City Government, inspected Taipei's flood control readiness today. The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that it has asked the city government and other relevant units to take advantage of the window before the typhoon's arrival to inspect all flood control facilities and ensure machinery is properly maintained. This includes strengthening the cleaning of ditches and clearing of sewers around important flood control systems such as the Nan-shen Bridge flood control gate and the Nan-shen Right Pumping Station to ensure drainage capacity.

The Executive Yuan convened a "Bavi Typhoon Flood Control Readiness Meeting" this morning. Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chang Chun-han instructed Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin to inspect key disaster-prone areas and drainage facilities from the June 25 heavy rainfall with relevant ministries and local governments to accelerate flood control preparations.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced through a press release today that Lai Chien-hsin invited Director-General of the Ministry of the Interior's National Land Management Administration Tsai Chang-chan, Director of the Sewerage Engineering Branch Office Chen Kao-hsiao, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Agency Chou Wen-hsiang, Taipei City Government Deputy Secretary-General Wang Chung-pin, Director of the Public Works Department Huang Yi-ping, and Director of the Water Resources Engineering Office of the Public Works Department Chang Kai-yao to inspect the Neihu area. The Taipei City Government reported on its flood control readiness, the causes of flooding on June 25, and subsequent improvement measures. They also tested gate operations and alarm systems on-site.

The Water Resources Engineering Office explained that in response to the flooding in Neihu, in addition to implementing short-term optimization plans to enhance resilience, three additional locations for rented machinery have been established: Wen-te No. 1 Park on Wen-te Road, a locally low-lying area on Chin-lung Road, and the drainage outlet of the Chin-jui Flood Control Park. This strengthens disaster prevention and relief efforts during intense rainfall.

Lai Chien-hsin stated that in response to climate change and extreme rainfall, manpower and equipment can be pre-deployed according to the latest flood potential maps. Considering the unpredictability of short-duration intense rainfall, the closing mechanism for the Nan-shen Bridge overpass gate on Sifeng Creek can be evaluated and adjusted in advance. The city government team can review whether the main drainage system is clear and if the flood discharge capacity is sufficient, further strengthen the cleaning of side ditches, and promote resident assistance in reporting issues. If necessary, support from the military, inter-departmental, or civilian resources can be requested to prepare for disasters under the most severe hypothetical scenarios.

Additionally, it is recommended to use ground-penetrating radar to understand the current drainage status and causes of flooding in previously waterlogged areas and to make improvements. For the Wen-te Road drainage system area, it is recommended to prioritize addressing the previously flooded areas.

Lai Chien-hsin emphasized that disaster prevention requires cross-departmental and public-private cooperation. With the typhoon approaching, it is recommended that district offices promote the practical installation of waterproof gates, flood barriers, and sandbags to educate the public on how to prevent flooding.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs reminds that the weather forecast indicates Typhoon Bavi's path is similar to a northwest typhoon, and its threat should not be underestimated. Areas prone to flooding such as Ta-liao-keng Creek, Sanxia River, Wulai, and Tamsui should be closely monitored.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs also urged the Water Resources Agency, the Taipei City Government, and the New Taipei City Government to make full use of the 72 hours before the typhoon's arrival to implement "inspect, inspect again, confirm, confirm again" to ensure all equipment is operating normally. Flood control resources should be prioritized for deployment to areas prone to disasters, flood detention ponds should be emptied in advance to reserve storage capacity, and roadside trees should be pruned in advance to prevent them from falling and affecting power supply. (Editor: Huang Kuo-lun) 1150707

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