The peripheral circulation of typhoon Khanun brought catastrophic torrential rains, severely damaged Ren-Ai Township, Nantou County. Floods and debris flows were reported at multiple sites. The special search team of National Fire Agency (NFA) rushed to the worst-affected areas of Ren-Ai at the first available time. A USAR Coordination Cell (UCC) was established to integrate the subsequent support and rescue teams and resources for joint efforts in search and rescue tasks.
Minister of the Interior Lin Yu-Chang was briefed the search and rescue works as he arrived at UCC at 14:00 on August 6. At present, the second brigade of Nantou County Government Fire Bureau (22 people), the special search and NFA rescue team (18 people and 2 dogs), New Taipei City Government Fire Bureau (50 people and 4 dogs), and Taichung City Government Fire Bureau (20 people and 2 dogs) were assembled at UCC. A total of 110 special rescue workers personnel and 8 search and rescue dogs were put into the disaster relief work. Supporting workers and search and rescue teams were dispatched to deliver life-supporting supplies to Lushan Hot Spring personnel and evacuate 2 stranded campers at the Dongyan Mountain waterfall camping, depending on the development of disaster.
After the briefing, the Minister instructed the search and rescue teams to not only devote all their efforts to disaster relief work, but also encouraged the special search team members to pay attention to their own safety while working in the deviated areas. He recognized the search and rescue teams with an appreciation bonus and expressed his gratitude to the team members for helping Nantou with disaster relief and “putting themselves in the victims’ shoes".