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Local chiefs apologize for sending children into danger (Video)

Local chiefs apologize for sending children into danger (Video)

Local chiefs apologized for sending children into danger

As Typhoon Megi is taking dead aim at Taiwan, most local governments announced a full-day school and office closures for Tuesday, except Yunlin County, Chiayi County/City, Tainan City, and Kaohsiung City. A video of four school children trying to take shelter behind an electric pole against strong gusts caused by Typhoon Megi went viral. The scene reportedly took place in Chiayi County. Chiayi Magistrate Chang Hwa-kuan offered her apologies to citizens for the decision allowing closures only in the second half of the day, saying she felt sorry to see school children suffering on their way home. On Tuesday noon, a netizen posted a video on an online gossip forum “Bao-liao-gon-se” with a description saying that the video was shot near Nan Shin Elementary School in Chiayi at noon when school students were walking home from the school. The footage shows that four students, probably aged between 7 and 10, could barely walk against strong gusts and then chose to take shelter behind an electric pole. (video – courtesy of 爆料公社) Chang said the Chiayi government had made the decision based on the weather data which apparently underestimated the power of the storm. Chang is not the only city or county head facing a “storm of criticism” thanks to the typhoon; Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu and Tainan City Mayor William Lai have also drawn criticism for allowing only a half-day off for offices and classes amid strong gusts caused by the typhoon. Chen Chu said Tuesday that she felt sorry for the inconvenience caused to Kaohsiung citizens. Another piece of footage taken by a dash cam on the same day shows that a granny was walking against strong winds toward her motor scooter, which was seen tumbling onto the roadside. The driver got out of his car to help the granny out and gave her a free ride to pick up her grandchildren at school in Tainan. A great deal of criticism is swirling around the decision of a “half-day off” made by its city mayor William Lai. He also apologized for the inconvenience and injuries caused to citizens and explained that the decision had been made based on the forecast and on the city’s business competitiveness. (video – courtesy of 爆料公社)