Taipei: Hualien and Taitung counties in eastern Taiwan recently carried out urban resilience air defense drills. The exercise focused on evacuation and sheltering procedures and notably did not include a simulated mobile network slowdown, a measure that had been implemented in central Taiwan earlier in the week.

According to Focus Taiwan, the decision to exclude the mobile network slowdown was based on considerations of the region's communications infrastructure and the potential impact on residents, though specific details were not released by the authorities. The drills commenced at 1:30 p.m. with air raid sirens, and police along with civil defense personnel were actively involved in clearing roads and guiding the public to designated shelters.

In Hualien, officials organized the evacuation of people from the county government office to an underground parking lot, while individuals at the Far Eastern Department Store were moved to the basement. Additionally, police instructed vehicles to halt, directing drivers and passengers to seek refuge in nearby buildings.

The Hualien County administration reported that over 700 personnel, including those from the county government, police, and civil defense units, participated in the drill, ensuring a swift and effective evacuation process.

Meanwhile, in Taitung, train station passengers were directed to a 30-meter-long underground passage for sheltering. Over 100 individuals were accommodated in the passage, some using fans to stay cool due to the confined space. Taitung County Magistrate Yao Ching-ling acknowledged that the exercise highlighted certain areas requiring review and improvement, thus providing valuable insights for future emergency preparedness efforts.