Will Taipei Declare a Typhoon Holiday on Friday? Wu Jingyi Calls Out Mayor Chiang Wan-an: Can You Announce It Immediately This Time?

Whether to declare a typhoon holiday has once again become the most discussed topic ahead of the approaching powerful Typhoon Bavi. The Central Weather Administration announced on the morning of the 9th that if the typhoon's path shows no significant change, a sea warning for Typhoon No. 9, Bavi, will be issued at 2:30 PM. A land warning is expected to be issued by the early hours of the 10th, though the exact timing will follow the official announcement from the weather agency.

With increasing wind and rain expected, political commentator Wu Jingyi publicly called on Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an on the 9th via Facebook, urging the city government to immediately announce a holiday so citizens have sufficient time to prepare for typhoon precautions.

As the powerful Typhoon Bavi advances, will Taipei declare a holiday on July 10?

According to meteorological forecasts released by the Central Weather Administration on July 9, Typhoon Bavi remains a large and powerful storm, continuing to approach Taiwan. Forecasts indicate that northern Taiwan will experience increasingly severe weather from the evening of July 10, with July 11 expected to be the day of strongest impact.

Facing the imminent threat of the typhoon, Wu Jingyi posted on Facebook on the morning of the 9th, directly naming Mayor Chiang Wan-an. She stated that Typhoon Bavi will undoubtedly bring violent winds and torrential rain on July 11, and Taipei must take disaster prevention seriously. She reminded that a previous heavy rainstorm caused Neihu District to resemble a yellow 'hot pot,' indicating severe accumulation of mud and debris, and emphasized that flood prevention preparations must not be taken lightly.

Why did Wu Jingyi call on Chiang Wan-an to announce the holiday early?

Wu Jingyi argued that the Taipei City Government should prioritize citizen safety and implement an 'emergency preparedness holiday' early on the 10th. She criticized Chiang Wan-an for consistently allowing workers and students to commute and attend school normally during typhoons, despite the risks of heavy rain and disasters.

In her Facebook post, Wu Jingyi harshly labeled Chiang Wan-an as the 'empty prince of politics.' She pointed out that, in her observation, even when Keelung and Taoyuan have already announced work and school suspensions, Taipei often waits until the last minute to follow suit. She claimed this approach treats citizens' safety as a gamble, essentially betting with the lives of Taipei residents.

Additionally, Wu Jingyi questioned Chiang Wan-an’s strong stance during a recent typhoon preparedness meeting, where he sternly told department officials: 'Don’t let any emergency situations arise that require urgent mobilization!'

She criticized this rare display of assertiveness from Chiang, questioning his motives. She asked whether this was 'a performance, or genuine concern about the serious impact of Typhoon Bavi on Taipei?' She urged Chiang to announce the holiday immediately this time, warning that if he delays again, his emotional displays are nothing but fake theater.

When will Taipei announce a typhoon holiday?

Regarding the timing of a potential holiday announcement, Chiang Wan-an stated after chairing a typhoon preparedness meeting on the 8th that Taipei will follow the existing work and school suspension mechanism. As per convention, the city will coordinate with the 'Northern Region Alliance' (Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan) and make a joint assessment by 8 PM the previous day before announcing any decision. He noted that Taipei traditionally suspends work and school for the entire day unless under exceptional circumstances. The final decision will depend on a comprehensive evaluation of the typhoon’s latest movement, wind and rain intensity, and affected areas.

When asked whether Taipei would follow Keelung’s lead in lowering its 24-hour rainfall threshold for suspensions from 350mm to 200mm in March, Chiang responded that Taipei currently maintains its existing standards. He added that the city will continue consulting with the Northern Region Alliance, referencing past experiences, and make a final assessment based on potential disasters and regional weather impacts once the typhoon draws closer.