TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Experts pushed for more international collaboration in disaster prevention to improve public safety at the 2024 Asia Disaster Prevention Forum on Wednesday (April 24).
Taiwan Asia Exchange Foundation Chair Michael Hsiao (蕭新煌) said the April 3 Hualien earthquake is a “stark reminder” of seismic threats in Japan and Southeast Asia. He encouraged “cross border cooperation and mitigation in disaster prevention” as well as the use of smart technology to enhance disaster prevention and resilience.
He said Taiwan’s disaster prevention efforts included cooperation between different sectors, which had a beneficial impact on the nation’s ability to respond to natural disasters quickly.
The chair said he hoped for a “clear vision and concrete action plan” to promote regional collaboration. He pointed to the Taiwan Fire Academy in Nantou County, saying it could be renamed as the “Asia Pacific Fire Academy” and serve as a platform for regional partners to conduct joint training and information exchanges.
Taiwan Association for Disaster Prevention Industry Chair Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) pledged to “create a good ecosystem” in which countries would “share with each other” once he became minister for environment.
Chi said Taiwan could work more with Japan and the Philippines since they all are prone to earthquakes and floods.
The chair also said he would strive toward promoting a more open government and freer data for disaster prevention. He added that Taiwan’s private and public sectors should collaborate more.
Chi highlighted the impact of climate change on Taiwan. By 2041, the likelihood of more floods and droughts would rise, he said. Already, some companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. are investing in decarbonization, he said.
Taiwan’s current disaster prevention strategy is unable to handle the challenges brought on by climate change, he said, calling on the government to “be better prepared.”
Philippines Bureau of Fire Protection Chief Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil A Kwan Tiu said his country experiences 100-150 quakes per year, as well as multiple floods and volcanoes. In the face of such dangers, international cooperation is key to learn the “best practices” in responding to natural disasters, Tiu said.
Working with regional and other global partners helps the Philippines enhance service capability and redesign policies and programs, Tiu said. It also fosters global cooperation and interconnectivity, he added.
The superintendent said the Philippines has held four joint training session in recent years with Japan and Taiwan, which “helps BFP so much.” Tiu said he wanted to maximize and extend his nation’s natural disaster services in the Asia-Pacific and to other parts of the world.
He also said he wanted to adopt an international standard and to continue following a “whole of society approach,” which entails the private and public sectors working together to bolster disaster prevention capabilities.
Kochi Prefecture Deputy Director General of Department of Disaster Management Ebuchi Makoto encouraged international cooperation and said he aimed to improve his prefecture’s rapid response to natural disasters.
The local government spent a lot of effort to combat earthquakes, typhoons, and floods, Makoto said. Measures have included building higher dams and constructing escape towers. Kochi has also provided subsidies to make buildings resilient to quakes and distributed quake safety manuals, he said.
The official said 85% of homes in Kochi are earthquake proof. Now, the government is addressing how to quickly set up temporary shelters and deliver medical services after a natural catastrophe, he said.
It is also working on furniture fixed to the floor to prevent people from being trapped during an earthquake, he said.
The experts’ support for increased international cooperation follows the April 3 earthquake in Hualien that led to 16 deaths and more than 1,000 aftershocks. On April 23, 83 earthquakes were detected in Hualien. Two of them measured 6.3 and 6 on the Richter scale.
Additionally, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) last year identified Asia as the world’s most disaster-prone region due to climate change-related threats. The WMO pointed out there were 79 disasters related to water hazards reported in Asia in 2023.