Strong Earthquake in Kumamoto! Taiwan's Fire Agency Prepares Special Rescue Teams from 4 Cities on Standby — Liu Shih-fang: 'Departure Within 4 Hours if Japan Requests'

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, at 4:27 p.m. local time on the 28th, registering the maximum seismic intensity of 7 and causing severe damage. Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang stated on the 29th that upon learning of the news, the Fire Agency immediately began preparations. Since last night, standby teams from Tainan, Hsinchu, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung have been fully mobilized. These special rescue units are fully equipped and ready to deploy within four hours if Japan submits a formal request through official channels.

During a morning press briefing at the Legislative Yuan, Liu responded to media inquiries about the current readiness of Taiwan's search and rescue teams following the strong quake in Kumamoto and when they might depart. Liu explained that due to the possibility of further aftershocks — or even larger earthquakes — the Fire Agency initiated preparations immediately upon receiving the alert.

Liu clarified that standby teams have been in place since last night, including units from Tainan, Hsinchu, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung. Although Kaohsiung is not currently on rotation duty, Mayor Chen Chi-mai specifically instructed the city's special rescue team to prepare, given Kaohsiung's sister-city relationship with Kumamoto. The rescue teams are fully equipped according to standard protocols and will activate immediately upon Japan's request through official liaison channels, with deployment possible within four hours.

In a press release issued late on the 28th, the Fire Agency reported that President Lai Qing-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai immediately instructed the agency to prepare search and rescue teams following the earthquake. In addition to expressing concern via phone calls to the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Fire Agency swiftly completed preparations for its Special Search and Rescue Team and the municipalities on duty for international humanitarian response this month: Tainan City Fire Bureau, Chiayi County Fire Bureau, and Hsinchu City Fire Bureau.

The Fire Agency stated that once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives an official request from Japan for Taiwan's search and rescue teams to assist in disaster relief, the Special Search and Rescue Team will jointly activate the international humanitarian assistance mechanism with the on-duty municipalities to provide on-site support.

Additional exclusive reports from Storm Media: · Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake in Kumamoto! TSMC's JASM Plant Evacuated — Latest Operational Status Revealed · Strong Earthquake in Kumamoto! Lai Qing-te and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Offer Immediate Condolences — Representative in Japan Reports Local Damage: Buildings Collapsed, Civilians Possibly Trapped · 'I Really Thought I Was Going to Die' — Kumamoto Residents Traumatized by 7.1 Earthquake; Locals Recall 10-Year-Old Disaster: Can't Sleep at Night