Taipei City Fire Department

With sympathy, Taipei City Urban Search and Rescue Team had sent its staff, equipments, and boats to support the disaster rescue activities in Pingtung County at midnight, August 8th. They arrived Pingtung County at 6 am on August 9th. Following the assignment of Fire Bureau, Pingtung County the rescue team entered the flooded disaster area and arrived Linbian Township at 7:40, beginning their rescue activities. Under the lead of Vice Captain En-shu Kuo, the rescue team had sent 7 fire engines, 10 speed boats, and 2 pneumatic boats to support disaster area. The whole rescue action planed to take about 2 to 3 days. In case of inconvenient communication in disaster areas, the team also brought 3 sets of satellite phones. The Commissioner of Fire Department, Kuang-Hua Hsiung said since the mass media reported Morakot Typhoon brought heavy rainfall and serious flood to southern areas including Jiading and Linbian Township in Pingtung. Taipei City Mayor, Lung-Bin Hau, had contacted with Pingtung County Magistrate, Chi-Hung Tsao, and realized that Pingtung County was in need of assistance of boats. However, Taipei City was still under the threat of Morakot Typhoon, there were only 4 vehicles, 2 speedboats, and 2 pneumatic boats available for supporting the rescue activities in Pingtung. At 10:15 pm on August 8th, Executive Yuan required Northern cities such as Taipei City, Taipei County, and Taoyuan County to dispatch more rescue resources to Southern disaster areas. After further estimation, 10 speedboats, 2 pneumatic boats, 7 vehicles, and 32 rescue members were sent to the disaster areas. Commissioner Hsiung had reminded everyone of country to spread out the sympathies that he encouraged people to make the most effort to help victims survive and evacuate from the disaster area while the Southern area suffers from such serious disaster. He points out that Taipei City not only dispatched the rescue team to support the rescue activities, but also sent water pumps to help the disaster areas. They also coordinated civil rescue groups to join in the rescue activities. In addition, it will not rule out the possibility to send the second or third recue groups and equipments to the Southern area later. Reportedly, the rescue team of Taipei City was assembled in an hour, collected equipments and set up the rescue plans right after receiving the order from Executive Yuan at 10:15 pm. The rescue team leaved Taipei City at 12:50 am, and arrived Pingtung County at 6:00 am in the morning. Under Pingtung County Fire Bureau’s command, the rescue team entered serious damaged Linbian Township and rescued local victims.