高雄清晨停課：天氣局低估風影響時間

Typhoon Impact: High Winds Force Suspension of Classes in Kaohsiung

Severe Weather Conditions and Safety Concerns Lead to Emergency Decision

By , Columnist

TVBS News Network reports that the Kaohsiung City Government announced the suspension of classes and work at 5:50 AM this morning due to the impact of Typhoon Dujuan. The decision was made based on the assessment that the strong winds had a longer duration in Kaohsiung than initially estimated by the Central Weather Bureau. Furthermore, considering that many commuters in Kaohsiung rely on motorcycles as their main mode of transportation, Mayor Chen Chi-mai contacted Mayor Huang Wei-cher of Tainan City in the early morning hours to discuss the safety of commuters in both cities, leading to the simultaneous announcement of the suspension of classes and work.

According to the city spokesperson, Ms. Chou Jing-yu, reports of fallen trees and power outages were received from various administrative districts since late last night. Mayor Chen held two disaster response meetings at 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM today to closely monitor the dynamic changes of the typhoon, analyzing the wind observations updated hourly from various wind observation stations as a basis for assessing the duration of the impact on the city and its residents.

Ms. Chou further explained that according to the regulations of the “Standard Operating Procedures for Stopping Work and Classes in Natural Disasters,” work and classes can only be suspended when the wind forecast reaches an average wind speed of level 7 or gusts of level 10. Based on the data from the Central Weather Bureau last night, the wind was expected to weaken as dawn approached. However, the actual path of the typhoon continued to shift eastward after midnight, resulting in an extended period of strong winds in Kaohsiung. As of 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM this morning, several wind observation stations in Kaohsiung still recorded an average wind speed of level 7 or higher, with gusts reaching level 10.

Concerned about the safety of residents going out in the morning, the city government’s disaster response center held video conference calls with the district chiefs of the 38 administrative districts. Unable to eliminate the risk to the safety of the citizens caused by the strong winds, Mayor Chen concluded that it was necessary to suspend classes and work. He contacted Mayor Huang Wei-cher of Tainan City, which shares the same living sphere with Kaohsiung, to confirm their joint decision.

Ms. Chou emphasized that despite the efforts of various units to rescue fallen trees and Taiwan Power Company’s continuous efforts to restore power supply, the decision to suspend classes and work was made with the safety of citizens in mind. Especially since today is the day when many junior high and elementary schools in Kaohsiung resume classes after the summer vacation, the suspension not only shows consideration for the well-being of the public but also facilitates post-disaster recovery work. Mayor Chen hopes that the citizens will understand the decision made by the city government team after careful consideration.

In conclusion, it is evident that the decision to suspend classes and work in Kaohsiung was made in response to the longer-than-expected duration of the strong winds caused by Typhoon Dujuan. Safety concerns, particularly for motorcycle commuters, were taken into account, leading to the coordinated decision with Tainan City. By prioritizing the safety of the citizens, the Kaohsiung City Government aims to minimize the potential risks associated with severe weather conditions while facilitating the recovery process after the typhoon.