Taiwan prepares for heavy rain and civil defense drills

Taiwan is preparing for a week of heavy rainfall and simultaneous civil defense exercises. The Central Weather Administration has warned that southwest winds and low-pressure systems will bring heavy rain to central and southern regions, with potential thunderstorms in the north and east. High temperatures and humidity will persist in areas without rain.

Separately, seven northern counties and cities, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Keelung, and Yilan, are conducting a town resilience (air raid) drill. As part of the exercise, telecommunications providers will implement a 30-minute mobile network speed reduction to simulate extreme bandwidth shortages and test government backup capabilities. While emergency services like 110 and 119 will remain functional, users may experience disruptions to video streaming, social media, and mobile payments. Residents are advised to download important information in advance.