The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) released an English-language infographic guide to assist foreign residents in understanding emergency procedures during air raid alerts.
This year, the Ministry of National Defense is to hold urban resilience drills alongside the annual Han Kuang exercises, which would combine air raid, evacuation and traffic control measures across public transportation, shopping centers and government sites.
To assist foreigners in understanding where air raid shelters in their areas are, as well as what measures to take during the drills — or during an emergency event — the MOI published a guide on the National Police Agency’s Civil Defense Office Web site (https://adr.npa.gov.tw/).
Photo: Annabelle Chih, Reuters
The page provides locations of air raid shelters nationwide, as well as English-language instructions about what to do in the event of an emergency. There are also links to Chinese-language and English-language apps which provide maps, instructions, and other emergency-related resources.
The National Police Agency on Friday said it has also instructed local governments to increase outreach efforts to foreign communities ahead of the drills.
The exercises, which began on Wednesday, are to run until Friday. Urban resilience drills are to run from Tuesday to Friday, with drills to be held in Yilan, Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu city and county on Thursday.
In addition to providing updates on drills and air defense measures through official announcements in the media and on its Web site, the information would also be shared through social media and community networks to ensure wide accessibility, the MOI said.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance national emergency preparedness and foster a safer, more inclusive environment for all residents, it said.
“Developed with reference to international best practices, the infographic guide uses clear visuals and simple text to explain key sheltering principles in various scenarios,” it said.
The guide advises staying away from exterior walls and windows, protecting the head and moving to lower floors for safety, while people caught outdoors should seek shelter immediately in the nearest building or take cover in underpasses or tunnels, it said.
People inside vehicles are advised to drop below window level to reduce exposure to debris or shockwaves, it said.
“If reaching a shelter is not possible, individuals should reduce their posture, move away from the blast source, protect their heads and wait for a safer moment to relocate,” it said.
Every second is critical when an air raid siren is activated, and being familiar with nearby shelters and understanding basic sheltering protocols can make a vital difference in personal and family safety, the MOI said.
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