TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The northern Taiwan phase of the 2025 Urban Resilience Exercise will be held on Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a 30-minute air raid alert, evacuation, traffic control, and emergency response drills.

It covers Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Yilan County, Hsinchu County, Keelung, and Hsinchu, per ETtoday. In Taipei, the scenario simulates a sudden aerial assault, prompting the central government to issue alerts and activate the warning system.

Chu Sen-tsuen (朱森村), director of the Manpower Mobilization Division under the All-out Defense Mobilization Office, said alerts will be broadcast via television, radio, local officials, schools, and police vehicles. Residents will also receive smartphone warnings with links to nearby air raid shelters.

Chu advised drivers to follow instructions from police and civil defense personnel. Vehicles in drill zones must pull over, and occupants should evacuate to the nearest shelter or take cover as directed.

If not close to a shelter, people should seek a sturdy area away from windows and follow the “two-wall rule,” placing at least two walls between themselves and the outside. All public institutions, private entities, and residents within the drill area must comply with the exercise.

Chu warned that failing to comply may result in fines of NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 (US$1,000–US$5,000) under the Civil Defense Act.

The Taipei Metro said trains will operate as usual, but a “no-exit” policy will be in effect, and passengers must follow staff instructions for evacuation, per CNA. Those arriving at stations should proceed to the lobby or platform levels as directed.

Taipei Arena, Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, East Metro Mall, and Zhongshan Metro Mall will be closed during the drill. Their parking lots will also enforce the no-exit rule, and the public should follow staff directions to evacuation points.

City buses will halt departures during the drill, according to the Taipei transportation department. Buses already in service will pull over, and passengers will be asked to disembark and evacuate.

Intercity buses will continue highway operations but follow evacuation protocols once on local roads. All passengers are expected to cooperate with safety measures.

YouBike and shared cars or scooters will remain available. Users must stop their vehicles by the roadside and follow evacuation instructions from authorities.

The Taipei tourism department said the air raid alarm will consist of one 15-second tone followed by two five-second ones. The all-clear signal will be one continuous 90-second tone.

During the drill, flights at Taoyuan Airport will maintain normal takeoffs and landings, per ETtoday. Check-in, customs, and boarding inside the terminals will proceed as normal.

However, external transportation services, including passenger buses, taxis, and rental cars, will pause departures during the drill. Passengers arriving at the airport must follow audio announcements and staff instructions to evacuate inside the terminal.

Observation decks on both sides of Terminal 2 will be closed. Drivers must follow police directions and move vehicles to the roadside or parking areas for evacuation procedures.