The Control Yuan yesterday censured the Central Weather Bureau for failing to adequately warn the public of the danger posed by Typhoon Morakot and to ask media outlets to retract reports that said the typhoon was not serious.
At least 700 people died in early August as record rainfall wrought havoc and triggered massive landslides in mountainous areas.
“The weather bureau did not remind the public to clean out drains after increasing the amount of precipitation expected ... it also failed to present its forecast in layman’s terms,” Control Yuan member Yu Teng-fang (余騰芳) said.
Control Yuan member Cheng Jen-hung (程仁宏) said the bureau should have demanded several TV stations correct their reports that underestimated the severity of the typhoon.
“The weather bureau deserves praise for its professional expertise in weather forecasting,” Cheng said. “But it was not good at effectively communicating with the public.”
The bureau was the first government agency charged with dereliction of duty by the government watchdog, which has launched an investigation into the executive branch’s efforts in flood control, soil conservation, management of roads and bridges, land planning, relief and reconstruction projects and the disposal of debris and work to prevent the spread of disease.
In response, the bureau said it would conduct a thorough review of its forecasting.
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