Military forces put on standby for typhoon response role
ROC Central News Agency
2011/08/29 21:32:15
By Lo Chu-tung and Hebe Wang
Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) Military forces have been ordered to engage in rescue and relief operations when informed of emergencies triggered by Typhoon Nanmadol, Ministry of National Defense (MND) officials said Monday.
Military personnel have been instructed to take the initiative to assist in rescue operations without waiting for orders from people higher up in the chain of command, the officials said.
According to the MND, a large number of military personnel has been deployed in areas vulnerable to heavy rains from Typhoon Nanmadol, which swept through southern Taiwan earlier in the day.
The Central Weather Bureau has warned of mudslides in mountainous areas and floods in low-lying areas in southern and eastern Taiwan.
Yunlin, Chiayi, Pingtung, Hualien, and Taitung counties, and Tainan and Kaohsiung cities, are the most likely areas to be affected, weather forecasters said.
According to the MND, 3,810 soldiers have been mobilized to evacuate 6,608 residents, pile up 6,300 sand bags and transport six tons of garbage in typhoon-affected areas.
Military personnel have also helped harvest 56,300 kilograms of agricultural products in Hualien and Tainan, transport 140 stranded visitors from the outlying island of Matsu to Taiwan proper, and offer shelter to 331 people.
Meanwhile, military bases around the island have been ordered to stand by to respond to any contingencies.
The bases on standby have 50,392 soldiers, 625 power generators, 225 water pumps, 47 amphibious vehicles, 146 armored vehicles, 134 heavy machines, 34 aircraft, and 99 boats, according to the MND.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
