Keelung Mayor Urges Vigilance as Typhoon Bavi Approaches Taiwan

Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang has issued a strong warning, urging residents to exercise extreme caution as Typhoon Bavi approaches, bringing with it the threat of significant impacts to northern Taiwan, including the port city of Keelung. The mayor emphasized the need for preparedness during a disaster prevention meeting, highlighting that Friday and Saturday are expected to be the most critical days.

Forecasting substantial rainfall and strong winds, Mayor Hsieh directed city departments to intensify preparations. Efforts include clearing drainage channels and waterways, reinforcing slope stability checks, and ensuring the operational readiness of pumping stations. The city administration is actively preparing to combat the typhoon's effects and safeguard its citizens.

Addressing concerns about potential school and work closures, Hsieh stated that Keelung's rainfall threshold for such measures has been adjusted to align with neighboring areas like Ruifang and Yangmingshan. Any decisions regarding closures will be coordinated with Taipei and Taoyuan and announced simultaneously to ensure public safety. The mayor stressed that given Keelung's mountainous terrain, a full-scale preventive evacuation is impractical, necessitating a focused approach on evacuating residents from the most vulnerable areas if necessary, with potential requests for central government assistance.

City officials are closely monitoring the typhoon's trajectory, with the most severe impact anticipated from Thursday evening through Saturday. The Public Works Department has reported on the progress of slope stabilization projects, confirming the safety of most monitored slopes while identifying others that require continuous observation. The city is also compiling a list of heavy machinery and resources to facilitate post-disaster rescue and recovery operations.

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On Friday (10th) and Saturday (11th), please pay special attention to prevention.