Military Clears Typhoon Chan-hom Debris to Reopen New Taipei and Yilan Roads

Typhoon Goni brought fierce gusts in mid-month, delivering rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters across multiple areas in New Taipei City and Yilan County as it passed over northern Taiwan. The heavy rains caused road collapses due to landslides, bridge fractures, and damage to drainage systems. Reports indicate that the most severely affected areas included seven townships: Sanchong, Tucheng, and Tamsui in New Taipei City, and Su'ao, Toucheng, and Jiaoxi in Yilan County. Major roads were blocked by mudflows, disrupting residents' commutes and the transport of rescue supplies.

Following the typhoon, the Third Operational Command of the Republic of China Armed Forces swiftly activated its disaster prevention and relief mechanisms. On the 24th, it dispatched rescue troops and heavy machinery to the aforementioned seven affected townships. The military units collaborated with local governments to formulate clearance and restoration plans, coordinating on-site to ensure that rescue operations were not delayed by administrative procedures. The relief forces from the Third Operational Command comprised engineer troops, logistics support teams, and special operation vehicles, equipped with high-efficiency earth-moving machines, bulldozers, and loaders capable of clearing large-scale obstacles in a short period.

Specifically, engineer troops first removed road obstacles stranded by mudflows, using bulldozers to push broken bridge pillars and fractured rock blocks into safe zones. Subsequently, cleanup crews removed fallen rocks, uprooted trees, and weeds from the roadside to ensure unobstructed vehicle passage. The overall operations were completed between the 24th and the 25th, with some major roads reopening to traffic that evening, allowing residents to resume using public transportation. In addition to road restoration, the relief teams also assisted in clearing drainage pipes to prevent subsequent flooding.

This instance of civil-military cooperation once again highlighted the critical role of the Ministry of National Defense in natural disaster prevention and relief. In previous typhoon disasters, the military has utilized its professional engineering technology and rapid deployment capabilities to help local governments quickly restore infrastructure and minimize disaster losses. The post-Typhoon Goni relief operations not only accelerated road restoration but also provided a sense of security for the public, fostering community recovery. The government stated that it would further refine the civil-military cooperation mechanism, establish more flexible disaster response procedures, and strengthen infrastructure protection in areas prone to disasters.

In summary, the rapid deployment and efficient operations of the Third Operational Command following Typhoon Goni demonstrated the maturity and practical effectiveness of civil-military collaborative operations. Through professional expertise and on-site coordination, the roads and environment in the seven townships returned to normal in a short time, allowing residents' lives to resume swiftly. This event further proves that in the face of increasingly frequent extreme climate events, civil-military cooperation is not only a necessary means of disaster relief but also a key to enhancing social resilience. (Source: Central News Agency)