Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of Environment (MOENV) on Monday held a cross-agency tabletop exercise simulating an extreme heat scenario of 40 degrees Celsius, focusing on compound disaster impacts and support measures for vulnerable groups.

According to Focus Taiwan, the exercise involved 34 central and local agencies and simulated three consecutive days of 40-degree-Celsius heat in Taipei's Neihu District, New Taipei's Wugu District, and Taoyuan's Luzhu District. The MOENV outlined a three-stage scenario starting with substation failures, localized power outages, and heat-related medical emergencies among vulnerable groups.

The situation escalated to railway speed restrictions due to overheated tracks and rising heat illness cases among outdoor workers and chronic patients. The final stage focused on response efforts, including garbage fires and road surface deformation. Deputy Minister Hsieh Yein-rui noted that although heat is not classified as a disaster under the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act, it can develop into systemic risks when combined with heavy electricity demand, infrastructure strain, and vulnerable populations.

Hsieh also mentioned that the exercise was conducted with local governments in northern Taiwan, highlighting that regional risks differ. Following the exercise, the ministry plans to hold a review meeting and incorporate lessons into future interagency response planning. Additionally, the ministry will compile and publish relevant information online to help the public understand response measures from agencies such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Labor. It is also considering using messaging platforms like LINE for future heat-risk alerts.

The ministry operates a "cool map" listing more than 9,000 cooling sites nationwide, including air-conditioned rest areas and drinking water stations. Asked about the possibility of a "heat day off," Hsieh said the issue remains under review across ministries, including education and labor, noting that the impacts of heat vary by workplace. The current focus is on preparedness rather than shutdown policies.

Separately, CWA official Lin Ping-yu stated that the agency is considering township-level cell broadcast warnings for areas at high risk of extreme heat.