Taiwan activates emergency center for first time over tsunami threat

Taipei, July 30 (CNA) Taiwan's Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) was activated Wednesday for the first time in response to a tsunami, after a magnitude-8.8 earthquake off the coast of Russia triggered a surge that could impact the country.

The CEOC convened its first work and intelligence assessment meeting at noon, after Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a tsunami warning earlier in the day, the center said.

A total of 23 rescue aircraft and 14 naval vessels have been placed on standby, the CEOC said.

Local governments have also ordered coast guard personnel to remind the public to stay away from coastal areas and conduct safety checks at fishing harbors.

Taiwan's National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) reported that potential tsunami flooding could impact coastal areas in Chiayi County, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County, New Taipei, Yilan County and Hualien County.

According to the NCDR, simulations estimate possible overflow depths of around 0.3 meters in affected regions.

Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said the Taiwan Fisheries Agency has instructed broadcast stations to increase the frequency of warnings for vessels operating near the country.

The ministry added that the fisheries monitoring center has been asked to alert distant-water vessels in the North Pacific to boost their preparedness.

Wave heights near Taiwan are currently projected to mainly remain under one meter and are unlikely to cause fisheries-related losses, the MOA said.

Deputy Minister of the Interior Dong Jian-hong (董建宏), who also serves as deputy commander of the CEOC, emphasized that evacuation alerts were issued mainly for coastal areas and not the entire country.

Dong also called on offshore islands to be especially cautious about wave impacts and instructed the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and Taiwan Fisheries Agency to step up coastal patrols and vessel protection measures.