離開
進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Premier orders teams to prepare to aid rescue efforts
By Lee Hsin-fang and Wang Jung-hsiang / Staff reporters
Following a series of strong earthquakes in Kyushu, Japan, Premier Simon Chang （張善政） ordered Ministry of the Interior rescue teams to stand by and be ready to aid search and rescue efforts.
Executive Yuan spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun （孫立群） said Chang also delivered directives to agencies to ensure the safety of Taiwanese in Japan.
Chang asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to gather information on the whereabouts of Taiwanese staying, studying or traveling in Kyushu.
After a magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture late on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Taiwan would donate ￥10 million （US$92,036） to assist relief efforts, adding: “If Japan needs any further assistance, we will try our best to extend a helping hand.”
The Kaohsiung City Government has set up a disaster-relief account.
Calling on people to help Kumamoto residents, both Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu （陳菊） and Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Kang Yu-cheng （康裕成） donated a month’s salary to the account, with Chen yesterday posting on Facebook a picture of Kumamon — the prefecture’s mascot — asking people “not to let the smile [of Kumamon] disappear.”
Chen said Kumamoto and Kaohsiung have a close relationship, adding that many Japanese cities, including Kumamoto, offered assistance after the Kaohsiung gas pipeline explosions in 2014 and the Meinong earthquake this year.
“It is Kaohsiung’s turn to help this time,” Chen said, adding that the city “would not be absent from the actions of providing humanitarian aid.”
An account number has been made public by the city government （102103031319）; donations need to be made payable to the Kaohsiung City Government Social Affairs Bureau’s Social Aid Fund Special Account, with a note specifying that the money is for the Kumamoto earthquake.
Tainan Mayor William Lai （賴清德） wrote a letter on behalf of Tainan residents, sending the city’s best wishes. He also donated a month’s salary and launched a donation campaign for people affected by the earthquake in Kumamoto.
The Democratic Progressive Party pledged to donate NT$1 million （US$30,914）.
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je （柯文哲） on Facebook called on Taiwanese to pray for Japan, saying the relationship between the two nations has always been close, and Taiwan has always received assistance and empathy from Japan after disasters.
According to the Ministry of the Interior’s National Fire Agency duty roster for international humanitarian aid missions, if called upon, rescue teams from Keelung and Tainan would be first to go to Japan.
Keelung City Fire Department Deputy Director Chen Lung-hui （陳龍輝） said the Keelung rescue team has asked at least seven of its members to stand by and prepare equipment for an immediate departure.
Additional reporting by Hung Jui-chin, Kuo An-chia, Wu Cheng-feng and CNA
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
