TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Emergency responders in Taichung (台中), Taiwan's second-largest city, startled visitors at a popular family entertainment venue on Monday (June 30) with an unannounced disaster drill. The exercise at Wonder Newland (異想新樂園) simulated a gas explosion in the underground food court of Dali Art Plaza (大里藝術廣場), testing both personnel readiness and newly acquired rescue equipment in a realistic high-pressure scenario.
The meticulously orchestrated exercise employed theatrical elements that blurred the line between simulation and reality for many unsuspecting visitors. Alarms blared through the complex while volunteer "victims" with professionally crafted injury makeup screamed for help amid artificial smoke. Emma, a hospital administrative staff member recruited for her expertise, created disturbingly realistic wounds and burns on participants. Officials deliberately scheduled the drill during the afternoon rush when the venue typically experiences its highest foot traffic, maximizing the challenge for emergency teams.
Chan Jen Chieh (詹仁傑), who commands the Third Disaster Relief Brigade (第三救災救護大隊) within the Taichung City Fire Bureau (台中市政府消防局), underscored the critical nature of such unannounced exercises. "These drills significantly sharpen our emergency response capabilities while reinforcing that disaster preparedness is a shared community obligation," Chan explained. The operation served multiple objectives beyond basic training, including evaluating recently acquired equipment under realistic conditions and strengthening the crucial operational relationships between commercial establishments and emergency services.
Emergency management officials conducted an immediate post-exercise debriefing where they methodically analyzed response times, communication effectiveness, and equipment performance. The assessment yielded targeted recommendations for procedural refinements and additional training needs. Wonder Newland management subsequently committed to establishing a regular schedule of similar drills, pledging enhanced cooperation with fire authorities to extend these preparedness initiatives to neighboring shopping centers and other high-density public spaces throughout the district. ◼