Disaster drills were held in parts of the nation on Monday to prepare for the rainy and typhoon seasons, with new measures tested to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus in the event of evacuations.
The move comes after the central government called for measures to be taken to prevent infections at shelters. Downpours during the rainy season in June and July can lead to flooding, while dozens of typhoons approach every year, particularly in autumn, with about a handful making landfall and dumping heavy rain that can also lead to inundations.
While the virus pandemic continues, many people are expected to take shelter in their vehicles rather than risk infection in crowded evacuation centers.