中文內容 On September 19, the Taichung City Government, in partnership with Feng Chia University, hosted the 2024 Taiwan-Japan-US Earthquake Disaster International Symposium at the Taichung Software Park in Dali. The event brought together disaster prevention experts, scholars, and business representatives from Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S. to explore strategies for earthquake preparedness, response, and recovery. Vice Mayor Huang Kuo-jung, joined by Deputy Tai Chun-kun of the Fire Bureau, attended the event and stated that through exchanging earthquake disaster-related measures from various countries, they hope to enhance disaster prevention skills and knowledge. He emphasized the need for comprehensive preparations and effective responses to minimize the impact when disasters strike.
Deputy Mayor Huang mentioned that in recent years, extreme weather events have led to an increase in natural disasters around the world. In Taiwan, for example, the Hualien earthquake on April 3rd affected Taichung’s Heping District. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the devastating 1999 Jiji earthquake. In recognition, the Fire Bureau and Feng Chia University hosted the Taiwan-Japan-US Earthquake Disaster Symposium, inviting experts from the U.S. and Japan. Eight companies and organizations, including TAROKO MALL Taichung, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Sinon Corporation, China Medical University Hospital, AUO Corporation, Lihpao Resort, Feng Hsin Steel, and Yung Shin Pharm, are also participating in boosting disaster prevention knowledge and preparedness. Huang also encouraged citizens to familiarize themselves with their community's disaster response plans to better handle potential disasters.
The Fire Department thanked Chairman Chang Po-chun of APEX Group for supporting the event by providing the venue. The symposium featured keynote speakers such as Tetsuya Kosaka from Yokohama City's Crisis Management Office, Naotoku Yoshikawa, head of the Emergency Response Division, Associate Professor Chang Hsien-he of the Department of Safety and Emergency Services Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Associate Professor and Director Lin Pei-shan of the Graduate School of Disaster Management at the Central Police University, managers Yu Cheng-nan and Chang Chih-yang from AUO Corporation, and noted architect Hsu Jung-chiang. Through cross-cultural exchanges between countries, they aimed to gain a deeper understanding of disaster characteristics and, from the perspective of scholars, explore response framework planning, changes in risk communication, as well as building structure techniques and corporate disaster response strategies.
The Fire Bureau noted that a corporate disaster prevention pep session was held before the symposium to engage Taichung's major companies in disaster preparedness efforts. The discussions during the symposium will contribute to improving the city’s disaster prevention policies and promote closer collaboration between the city government and businesses, thereby enhancing Taichung's and Taiwan’s disaster response capabilities and protecting the lives and property of citizens. On the 25th anniversary of the 1999 Jiji earthquake, the city government will team up with the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan to organize the National Disaster Prevention Day to remind citizens of the importance of disaster preparedness.