With the approach of powerful Typhoon Bavi, Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau forecasts up to 900 millimeters of cumulative rainfall in mountainous areas of Taipei. At 8 PM today (9th), Taipei City, along with Keelung, New Taipei, and Taoyuan, jointly announced a shutdown of work and school for tomorrow (10th). Retailers such as Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Jingzhan, and some cinemas have since declared one-day closures. However, Taipei 101 Mall delayed its official announcement, prompting grassroots staff to appeal on social media.
A user identifying as a frontline counter employee at Taipei 101 posted on Threads, pleading with Chairperson Ya Yun-chieh to consider employees' safety. They emphasized, 'We're not trying to avoid work—we just want to return home safely.' The post highlighted that many staff live far from the mall, raising concerns about commuting safely to and from work during the storm.
The employee urged Ya to empathize with frontline workers: 'When the government has already declared a shutdown, could we also be granted leave? Please prioritize life safety over business operations. We want to return home safely and come back healthy after the typhoon to continue serving 101.'
Many netizens voiced support: 'It's absurd—while the office tower, including the stock exchange, is closed, the mall tower still requires work. This is class discrimination.' Others wrote, 'I'm still worried if there will be buses from Keelung to Taipei tomorrow,' and 'Typhoon leave should apply to all industries except essential personnel like military, police, firefighters, and medical staff.' Concerns over safety were widespread: 'It's too dangerous to work during a typhoon—please consider employees' lives.'
At 10:41 PM, Taipei 101 finally announced on its Facebook page that due to Typhoon Bavi, the shopping center, observatory deck, and high-rise restaurants would suspend operations for one day on July 10, 2026 (Friday). The statement apologized for the inconvenience.
More exclusive reports from Feng Media: · North-North-Keelung-Taoyuan to suspend operations tomorrow! Typhoon Bavi approaches—complete list of typhoon leave by city · Typhoon Bavi hits Taiwan! All international flights at Taoyuan Airport canceled on the 11th—flight changes for China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux Airlines · Typhoon Bavi intensifies! Water Resources Agency fully mobilized for typhoon preparedness: Flood prevention relies on close central-local cooperation
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- Source: PR Times
- Category: News