TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's western regions will experience deteriorating air quality during the upcoming Tomb Sweeping holiday (清明節), a traditional festival when families visit ancestral graves, the Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部) warned on Wednesday. Environmental monitoring systems predict orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) or red (Unhealthy) alerts throughout the holiday period, with officials identifying cross-border ozone as the primary culprit. This transboundary pollutant has already begun affecting the island's air quality, maintaining orange alert levels that are expected to persist through Thursday.
The air quality situation is projected to worsen from Friday through Monday as meteorological conditions shift unfavorably. Easterly winds will impair pollution dispersion capabilities across western Taiwan, leading to elevated concentrations of PM2.5—microscopic particulate matter that poses significant health risks when inhaled. Environmental officials caution that most regions will display orange alerts during this period, while certain areas may temporarily escalate to more serious red alert levels. The ministry's forecast offers some relief beginning Tuesday, when anticipated rainfall should help cleanse the atmosphere through natural precipitation processes, improving air quality in affected regions.
In response to the impending air quality decline, the Ministry of Environment has activated its emergency response protocols, issuing early notifications to local environmental bureaus across the affected regions. Officials have directed county and city authorities to implement a comprehensive mitigation strategy: enhancing pollution control equipment at major industrial facilities, intensifying inspections of diesel-powered and aging vehicles in high-traffic areas, and deploying water coverage measures in zones susceptible to river dust contamination. Public health advisories urge residents to limit outdoor activities during periods of compromised air quality and recommend protective mask usage when outdoor exposure is unavoidable. Environmental authorities continue to monitor atmospheric conditions closely, emphasizing the importance of public awareness and adherence to protective measures throughout the holiday period.
