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Transport controls to be imposed in Greater Taipei for Wanan air drills

ROC Central News Agency

07/20/2023 11:18 PM

Taipei, July 20 (CNA) All transportation in the Greater Taipei area will be required to stop for 30 minutes on July 24, with drivers and passengers evacuated from their vehicles and public transport, as part of the Wanan air defense exercise scheduled to take place in northern Taiwan that day, Taipei's Department of Transportation said Thursday.

According to a statement released by the department, from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., all buses, taxis, transfer stations and metro stations in Taipei will be required to temporarily suspend operations or instruct passengers to evacuate to designated areas.

Buses in the city will not be dispatched during the drill, but those already on the road will be required to stop by the side of the road or at bus stops, and passengers will be asked to evacuate to the nearest shelter, the department said.

Inter-city buses driving on highways will be allowed to keep driving, but are required to follow the same instructions when they leave the highway, the department said.

Meanwhile, the department said transfer stations will not dispatch buses and will turn off the lights inside the building, with passengers allowed to enter but not leave the station during the drill.

People riding YouBikes will also have to stop at the side of the road, the department added.

During the drill, taxi drivers should stop by the side of the road and stop charging passengers. It is suggested they negotiate with passengers on how fares will be charged in advance, the department said.

Meanwhile, Taipei Metro will continue to operate with passengers allowed to enter but not leave stations. If passengers arrive at their destination, they should wait at designated evacuation areas in the stations until the drill is over, according to Taipei Rapid Transit Corp..

Taipei Metro vendors, underground malls and the Taipei Arena will also close their windows, doors and turn off lights during the Wanan exercise.

Taipei Rapid Transit Corp. reminded the public that according to Article 25 of the Civil Defense Act, anyone who violates regulations during the drills could face a fine ranging from NT$30,000 (US$966.2) to 1,500,000, adding that the stations will urge passengers not to congregate around the entrances.

Meanwhile, New Taipei Metro Corp. said in a statement Thursday that during the drill, Danhai light rail transit services will be suspended temporarily for the first time since its started operations, and the arrangement is expected to affect seven services that day.

The company said trains will be suspended temporarily, and all passengers will be asked to leave the trains for 30 minutes.

The company added that when the drill begins, passengers can leave stations without being charged, but the police will man entrances to guide them to designated evacuation areas nearby.

The air defense exercise, this year designated No. 46, seeks to raise public awareness of emergency warnings, in order to reduce casualties and damage in the event of an attack, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in early July.

Exercises are scheduled to be held around Taiwan from July 24-27, with civilians required to shelter in place when the drills are being conducted in their area, the MND said.

(By Chen Yu-ting, Kuan Ruei-ting and Evelyn Yang)

Enditem/AW