The Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) convened a meeting around 8 a.m., soon after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan earlier on Wednesday morning. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) attended the meeting to listen to departmental reports and inspect the situation.
Tsai said after the reports that the government must ensure the accuracy of information and provide timely assistance that people need to feel safe and secure. She stated that the government is remaining on high alert and working diligently.
Tsai called on the central government to maintain communication with local governments to provide any necessary assistance and reduce the impact brought by the disaster.
Chen emphasized that he has instructed all government agencies to establish a comprehensive notification system to provide necessary assistance to the public in a timely manner. He noted that transportation systems, including railways and highways in eastern Taiwan, have been affected. Chen said he has asked the Transportation Ministry to coordinate transportation dispatching work to ensure the smooth progress of disaster relief and facilitate public transportation.
Furthermore, Chen stated that he has also requested the Education Ministry to promptly assess the damage to schools and ensure the safety of students returning to classes.