TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The National Police Agency (NPA) announced on Tuesday (July 9) that Taiwan has 83,863 air-raid shelters nationwide, capable of accommodating 55,148,250 people. The agency assured the public that the number of shelters is sufficient.
During a press conference for the upcoming Han Kuang military and Wanan air defense exercises, Lin Kuo-hua (林國華), deputy director of the National Police Agency's Civil Defense and Command Control Center, demonstrated the agency's app. Lin explained that residents can locate shelters using on-site navigation or a national search feature.
Lin also mentioned that the agency has integrated the "All-Out Defense Contingency Handbook" (全民國防應變手冊) to create bilingual guides. These guides instruct the public on how to seek shelter when air-raid sirens sound.
Lin noted shelter signs are next to doorplates or prominent entrances. Common locations include building basements, MRT stations, schools, and underground parking lots.
The agency has linked its system with the Ministry of National Defense's (MND) national air raid alert messages. When residents receive these alerts, they will find a link to the nearest shelter if they enable their location services.
Last year, the agency faced criticism over the durability of shelter signs, which were prone to damage from weather. Lin stated that by the end of last year, all local police departments had updated the signs using laminated materials, with acrylic signs dependent on local budgets. The new signs are weather-resistant, and local police departments will continue to inspect and maintain them.