Zhushan Forest Road Inspection and Cleaning Completed to Ensure Alishan Visitor Safety

(Central News Agency, Chiayi County, 8th, reporter Tsai Chih-ming) As the typhoon and heavy rain season approaches, the Chiayi Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, has completed pre-flood season preparations on Zhushan Forest Road to maintain smooth traffic for Alishan tourists and park shuttle buses, ensuring road safety for visitors watching the sunrise.

In a press release today, the Chiayi Branch stated that Zhushan Forest Road is located in a high mountain area at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. During typhoons or heavy rain, intense rainfall often carries large amounts of fallen leaves, dead branches, and sediment into the drainage system. Once ditches are blocked, rainwater can overflow onto the road surface and cause issues like roadbed scouring, directly affecting the safety of tourists and park shuttle buses.

To address this, in addition to monthly routine forest road patrols, comprehensive inspections of the forest road have been strengthened recently, focusing on the functionality of side ditches, cross drains, and catch basins. Thorough desilting and debris removal have been carried out. Through systematic checks, the aim is to ensure the drainage system can function effectively during typhoons and heavy rain, enhancing flood discharge efficiency and maintaining unobstructed forest roads.

The Chiayi Branch reminds tourists visiting Alishan to pay close attention to weather forecast information. During the rainy season, if it rains, visitors must be careful about their footing when entering the forest road.

Meanwhile, the Chiayi County Government issued a warning today that a stationary front and southwestern air currents will arrive from June 8 to 14, advising caution against severe rainfall, strong winds, and high waves. Aquaculture farmers are urged to prepare for flood prevention, pay attention to water quality and sediment management, and harvest early if necessary to avoid losses.

Additionally, shallow-sea oyster farmers must inspect facility structures, make necessary repairs and reinforcements, and harvest early if needed to prevent damage to oyster racks.

The county government stated that if fishery disaster losses occur, farmers should promptly report to the local township office and fishermen's association, and make good use of the 'Agricultural Natural Disaster On-site Photography' app to record the damage, protecting their rights and improving disaster relief efficiency. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150608