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๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan /Disasters & Emergencies

Typhoon Day Decisions Based on Science, Says New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih stated that typhoon day decisions are based on scientific data and professional judgment.
  • This statement follows public discussion about whether Friday's typhoon day was necessary given light winds and rain.
  • The city reported 318 typhoon-related incidents, mostly fallen trees and minor flooding, with rapid recovery efforts underway.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih emphasized that decisions regarding typhoon day closures are strictly based on scientific data and professional meteorological assessments. His remarks came after many residents questioned the necessity of a day off on Friday, July 10, as Typhoon Bavi brought relatively light winds and rain to the city.

"The standard for typhoon days is always based on professional scientific judgment of meteorological data," Hou stated. He explained that the city government considers all available professional data to make comprehensive decisions. This approach has been New Taipei City's consistent stance on such matters.

Despite the public's perception, Hou confirmed that Typhoon Bavi generated 318 incident reports in New Taipei City. The majority of these involved fallen trees, dislodged signs, downed power lines, and localized flooding. However, recovery efforts have been swift, with most issues already resolved.

City teams, including the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Landscape Office, mobilized over 5,500 personnel to clear debris and restore public spaces. Hou specifically mentioned the progress in cleaning up riverside parks, particularly in Sanchong and Xindian districts, aiming to reopen access gates by that afternoon. The focus remains on restoring traffic signals and ensuring smooth transportation for the public's return to work and school.

The standard for typhoon days is always based on professional scientific judgment of meteorological data, and reference to all professional data to make an overall judgment and decision. This is New Taipei City's consistent attitude.

โ€” Hou Yu-ihMayor Hou explains the city's policy on declaring typhoon days.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.