Taipei mayor confirms coordinated approach to typhoon closures

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih has stated that decisions regarding potential typhoon-related school and work closures for the greater Taipei metropolitan area will be coordinated through a joint platform.

Responding to public concern about possible closures due to the approaching Typhoon Bavi, Hou emphasized that the North-North-Base-Taoyuan (Bei Bei Ji Tao) region functions as a single community. "We will always maintain close communication and cooperation through the platform for disaster information reporting and typhoon preparedness," he said.

Typhoon Bavi is forecast to bring the strongest winds and rain on Friday and Saturday. Hou indicated that the city is not taking the threat lightly, anticipating heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, with gusts of wind reaching level 8 to 10, and coastal gusts up to level 11 to 13. Waves are expected to reach 4 to 6 meters, with a possibility of long waves.

The mayor urged all city departments and district offices to mobilize for typhoon preparedness. He highlighted the need to adjust events, ensure public transportation readiness, reinforce structures like street trees, signs, and construction site fences, and strengthen measures in potential landslide areas, collapse-prone zones, low-lying areas, and hillside disaster sites. Emergency equipment will be pre-positioned in isolated areas, and street trees will be pruned.

Hou advised citizens to avoid coastal areas and refrain from watching waves or swimming due to the anticipated conditions. He assured the public that New Taipei City is making thorough preparations, with the city's disaster response center set to escalate from Level 2 to Level 1 activation starting tomorrow, operating 24 hours a day.