TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The New Taipei City Government conducted a nuclear safety drill on Wednesday (Sept. 11) that simulated a response to a possible accident at the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant.

Although the Jinshan plant is currently being decommissioned, nuclear safety cannot be ignored, New Taipei City Fire Department Chief Chen Chung-yueh (陳崇岳) said, per CNA. Spent nuclear fuel remains inside the plant, and the process of removing it is expected to begin in 2026.

Evacuations, logistical operations, and other measures to protect the public were practiced in the exercises. This included a military helicopter delivering supplies to a local elementary school and public warning systems tests, according to the city government.

The drill assumed a water overflow occurred in the plant’s spent fuel pools similar to past incidents caused by earthquakes in Japan, Chen said. The drill also practiced procedures to refill the pools.

Around 300 military, fire department, and local government members participated alongside 500 Shimen District residents, where the plant is located. New Taipei Deputy Mayor Chu Ti-chih (朱惕之) said that he was impressed by the efforts of the emergency responders and members of the public during the drill.

Chu said New Taipei will continue to conduct response drills and improve nuclear safety procedures.

The Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant opened in 1978 and began decommissioning in 2018. The plant’s operator, Taiwan Power Co., reached an agreement with the New Taipei City Government to complete a spent nuclear storage facility in May, ending a years-long battle over environmental consent.