The government is to issue nationwide earthquake and tsunami alerts tomorrow morning as part of this year’s National Disaster Prevention Day drills, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
The earthquake test would be conducted at 9:21am, followed by tsunami warnings at 10am and 10:10am for coastal areas, it said.
The drills aim to help people prepare for emergencies, as well as ensure that natural disaster prevention mechanisms are ready, the CWA said.
Photo courtesy of Kaohsiung Police Department
The agency said it hopes to improve the functionality of the alert and warning messaging system, and encourage public participation in disaster preparedness.
The earthquake drill would simulate a magnitude 7.3 quake with its epicenter in Chiayi County’s Jhuci Township (竹崎), with a maximum intensity of 7 and a depth of 7.9km, it said.
The tsunami scenario would simulate large waves triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake southwest of Taiwan, it said.
During the drills, the agency would send out information and alerts in real-time to mobile phones nationwide using its disaster warning service.
This year’s drill coincides with the 25th anniversary of the 921 Earthquake and the 15th anniversary of Typhoon Morakot, two major disasters that drove significant advancements in the nation’s disaster prevention and response planning.
The earthquake drill would test mechanisms of earthquake mitigation, preparedness and response at the local and national level, as well as include international scenarios to further evaluate disaster prevention systems, the CWA said.
National Disaster Prevention Day on Saturday is not only a test of disaster preparedness, but also an opportunity to raise public awareness about its importance and their role in it, the agency said.
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