Taiwan President Lai Ching-te urged candidates in the Nov. 28 local elections to prioritize safety as Typhoon Champi threatened mountainous areas, the Presidential Office said after a disaster-preparations briefing.
Lai and Premier Cho Jung-tai reviewed preparations at the Central Disaster Response Center on Oct. 23, the office said. Forecasts discussed there pointed to the most severe wind and rain continuing through the morning of Oct. 24 in Taiwan (Oct. 23 in Eastern time).
Northern and northeastern mountain areas were told to prepare for very heavy rain or worse. Central and eastern mountain areas were asked to stay alert. Lai also urged the public to avoid beaches, mountains, rivers and streams, and said preventive evacuations should prioritize older people, those with limited mobility and people needing medical care.
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) recorded a sea warning for Champi at 11:30 a.m. ET Oct. 21 (11:30 p.m. Taiwan time), followed by a land warning at 11:30 p.m. ET that day (11:30 a.m. Oct. 22 in Taiwan), according to its typhoon database.
Lai urged candidates to follow storm advisories and take precautions, warning that election activity should not draw their attention from safety. The Central Election Commission has set Taiwan's local public-official elections for Nov. 28.
