TAICHUNG (TVBS News) — A blanket of pollution has descended upon Taiwan as powerful northeastern winds sweep contaminants across the island, triggering "orange alert" air quality warnings in multiple regions on Tuesday (April 15). Environmental officials in Changhua County (彰化縣環保局), a major industrial area in central Taiwan, warned residents that these hazardous conditions could linger until Thursday, raising concerns about public health impacts.
Regional authorities have directed two of Taiwan's largest power facilities, Taichung Power Plant (台中火力發電廠) and Mailiao Power Plant (麥寮電廠), to activate pollution reduction measures through the Central Taiwan Governance Platform (中臺灣區域治理平台), a regional coordination body. Residents of Changhua County awoke to a hazy skyline that persisted throughout the day, with coastal communities experiencing particularly poor visibility. Environmental monitors identified airborne particulate matter (PM10) as the dominant pollutant, pushing all monitoring stations into the "orange alert" category.
The Environmental Protection Bureau has activated emergency protocols, issuing directives to 74 major industrial and commercial organizations to implement pollution reduction measures. Construction sites across the affected regions have received special instructions to strengthen dust containment efforts. The bureau has also deployed inspection teams to conduct unannounced checks of pollution control equipment and intensify enforcement against vehicles emitting excessive exhaust.
Health advisories urge the public to minimize time outdoors and take protective measures when exposure cannot be avoided. Officials have issued a comprehensive set of recommendations, including using public transit to reduce vehicle emissions, wearing appropriate face masks, keeping laundry indoors, and monitoring the Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Network (空氣品質監測網), the island's official air quality information platform, for real-time pollution data. ★