Vice President and President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said via Facebook that both central and local governments are persisting in rescue efforts and repair work to minimize the impact of the disaster. As the Qingming Festival holiday begins on Thursday, disaster-stricken areas are experiencing interruptions in transportation due to Wednesday’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Hualien.
With the four-day festival, Lai reminded people visiting graves to follow safety guidelines, including refraining from activities such as burning joss paper and setting off firecrackers. He said that following these precautions ensures personal safety and reduces the risk of fires and air pollution, easing the burden on firefighters. Lai also cautioned about potential aftershocks in the next few days, urging heightened awareness for safety.