Large-Scale Earthquake Relief Mobilization Drill

A large-scale earthquake relief mobilization drill was held on the National Disaster Prevention Day. Guard high-screen special search teams and US and Japanese and other rescue teams participated in the exercise to demonstrate the ability of international cooperation in disaster relief.

A simulated plane crash resulted in heavy casualties, and the entire Penggu County military police, firefighters, and coastal patrol forces were fully involved in the rescue of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s National Disaster Medical Rescue Team, Kaohsiung City, and the Pingtung County Fire Department. Professional disaster relief and rescue teams from the United States and a Japanese international non-governmental organization provided cross-border support for the exercise.

The exercise also saw the use of military field ambulances for the first time, while the Coast Guard’s 4,000-ton frigate and Air Force C-130 transport aircraft also helped move them by sea and air, mobilizing large-scale manpower and material resources to participate in the exercise.

Observation and Response

Interior Undersecretary Ma Xiuan led the Fire Department, Ministry of Transportation and other units to observe the disaster relief process at the scene, accompanied by Penghu County Magistrate Chen Guangfu, Speaker Chen Yuren, Commander of Penghu Defense Department Lieutenant General Guo Xunde and heads of Penghu Fire and Health.

Ma Xiuyuan confirmed the strength and realistic process of the participating units that, since Pengu is limited to being an island, the central government pays special attention to it and will do more planning and management based on today’s drill in the future.

“More preparedness, less disaster,” says Chen Guangfu. Using this semi-early warning, non-scripted and non-scripted approach, we learn updated disaster emergency response capabilities, communicate through drills with other counties, cities and international medical and search and rescue teams, and effectively improve overall disaster prevention and relief effectiveness through truly coordinated operations.

International Cooperation

Ma Xiuan said that since 2018, the central government has forced all localities to conduct massive disaster relief exercises, especially, Pengu is located on a remote island and is particularly concerned about disaster relief, with the National Disaster Prevention Day. A large-scale earthquake relief mobilization exercise will be held In addition to local disaster relief, professionals from Kaohsiung, Pingtung, the United States and Japan went to observe the entire disaster relief process, fully demonstrating the disaster relief capabilities of international cooperation.

Earthquake Evacuation Drill Demonstration Observation

In conjunction with the 921 National Disaster Prevention Day, Penggu County Government first held an “Earthquake Evacuation Drill Demonstration Observation” at Aymen Elementary School today, and Chen Guangfu went to inspect the drill and expressed his conviction on the safety of all teachers and students evacuated. At the school during the simulated earthquake, he hoped that through drills and education, awareness of disaster prevention would be awakened in the minds of the school children.