Climate and Natural Disasters

Taiwan Hosts International Rescue Teams for Annual Earthquake Drill

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By John Su/Fuhua Hung/Irene Lin

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To commemorate the devastating 1999 Jiji Earthquake and test Taiwan's emergency response capabilities, the 2026 National Disaster Prevention Day drill was held in Taitung. Simulating a catastrophic magnitude 7.3 earthquake, local firefighters joined forces with search and rescue teams from six other nations, including Indo-Pacific partners Fiji and the Philippines. President Lai Ching-te and several foreign representatives observed the multi-agency exercise, emphasizing Taiwan's evolution from a disaster relief recipient into a global provider of humanitarian rescue and technical expertise.