Disaster events API

The DPIP disaster-events API gathers disaster information issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA), the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), the Water Resources Agency, the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration (DGPA), and other agencies, and stores it in one event format. ExpTech only relays this information and does not issue these alerts itself. You can query events that are active now, nationwide or for one township, events from the last 3 days, and the affected area of one event (GeoJSON). Titles and body text can be requested in Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, and other languages with the lang parameter.

Not available yet

This version of the API is not open on a public host yet. Once it is, use it as described on this page.

Data license

• Attribution · Commercial use OK

  AttributionData: CWA and other issuing agencies, ExpTech Studio (exptech.dev)

Upstream terms

• CWA, NCDR, Water Resources Agency, DGPA and other issuing agencies: Each issuing agency's terms also apply. The issuer of each event is in its author field; credit it when you show a single event.

Where to show it, examples and commercial-use requests: Data licensing and attribution.

Authentication

No API Token is required.

Region codes

The region path parameter and the event area field both use the 3-digit postal code of a township, town, or district. For example, 105 is Songshan District, Taipei City, and 970 is Hualien City, Hualien County. These are the same township codes as the township hourly forecast.

• A township endpoint returns only events whose area contains that code. You do not filter them yourself.
• An event with area of [] (for example a thunderstorm or a road closure whose area is a polygon) appears only on the nationwide endpoints. For those, use hasPolygon and /event/{id} to get the area and test it yourself.

Language

All five endpoints accept a lang query parameter, one language at a time. Omitting it, a blank value, or a value that cannot be recognized is treated as zh. That does not return 400.

lang	Language	How it is produced
zh	Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)	Original text
zh_Hant_HK	Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong)	Converted on request
zh_Hans	Simplified Chinese	Converted on request
en	English	Translated in the background
ja	Japanese	Translated in the background
ko	Korean	Translated in the background
vi	Vietnamese	Translated in the background
th	Thai	Translated in the background
id	Indonesian	Translated in the background
fil	Filipino	Translated in the background

Parsing rules:

1. When there are several values, only the first is used. When there is a comma, only the first segment is used (en,ja is treated as en).
2. Surrounding whitespace is removed, and - is replaced with _ (zh-TW equals zh_TW).
3. An exact match with the table is used.
4. Aliases, case-insensitive: zh_TW, zh_Hant, and zh_Hant_TW map to zh; yue, zh_HK, yue_Hant, and zh_Hant_MO map to zh_Hant_HK; zh_CN, zh_SG, and zh_Hans_CN map to zh_Hans.
5. Otherwise the primary language before the first _ is used when it is in the table (en_US becomes en, ja_JP becomes ja).
6. Everything else is zh.

Only title, subtitle, and description are converted or translated. raw is always the original Traditional Chinese from Taiwan. For a language that is translated in the background, if any of the three fields has no translation, the whole entry falls back to zh (the lang field is zh). It does not mix languages. A later request to the same URL returns the translation, and the ETag changes. To see whether a translation is ready, compare each entry’s lang with the language you requested.

Active events nationwide

Events nationwide that have not expired yet (expires is later than now). Polygon areas are not included.

GEThttps://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/realtime/list

Commercial OK

ServerTNN-1

Query parameters

• langstringOptionalDefault zh

  Query parameter. Language. See the Language section

Request

cURL

curl "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/realtime/list"

JavaScript

const res = await fetch("https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/realtime/list");
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);

Python

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/realtime/list",
    timeout=10,
)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())

Response

200304

Success. [] when there are no events

[
  {
    "id": "1794632460",
    "status": 1,
    "type": "thunderstorm",
    "author": "cwa",
    "send": 1794632400000,
    "expires": 1794636000000,
    "title": "大雷雨即時訊息",
    "subtitle": "雷雨即時訊息",
    "description": "氣象署發布大雷雨即時訊息，持續時間至 14 時。",
    "lang": "zh",
    "area": [],
    "hasPolygon": true
  }
]

Not modified (If-None-Match matched). No bodyNo response body

Try it

Query parameters

langOptional

API token (optional)

Remember in this browserSend

The token is sent from your browser directly to the API.

Response fields

The response is an array of events. Every entry from the four list endpoints has this shape.

Field	Type	Description
[].id	string	Event id. A string of digits (the Unix seconds at the moment it was written), unique across all events. The unit differs from send. Do not use it as a time
[].status	number	1: the source marks it as an official issue. 0: anything else (for example an exercise or a test)
[].type	string	Event type. See Event types
[].author	string	Issuing-source id, for example cwa, ncdr, wra, dgpa. Some types take it straight from the source data, and the format is not fixed
[].send	number	Issue time, Unix milliseconds
[].expires	number	Expiry time, Unix milliseconds
[].title	string	Title
[].subtitle	string	Subtitle
[].description	string	Body. A township endpoint may use that township's summary. See description and raw
[].raw	string	Optional. The nationwide original text. Present only on a township endpoint when description uses that township's summary. Not translated
[].lang	string	The language this entry actually uses. zh when the translation is incomplete
[].area	number[]	Region codes of affected townships (3-digit postal codes). May be []
[].hasPolygon	boolean	true means /event/{id} can return a polygon area
[].addition	object	Optional. Extra data that depends on the type. See Extra data (addition)

Active events for a township

Events whose area contains the township and that have not expired for that township.

GEThttps://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/realtime/{region}

Commercial OK

ServerTNN-1

Path parameters

• regionintegerRequired

  Path parameter. 3-digit postal code, for example 105

Query parameters

• langstringOptionalDefault zh

  Query parameter. Language

Request

cURL

curl "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/realtime/<region>"

JavaScript

const res = await fetch("https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/realtime/<region>");
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);

Python

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/realtime/<region>",
    timeout=10,
)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())

Response

200304400

Success. [] when there are no events

[
  {
    "id": "1794626412",
    "status": 1,
    "type": "heavy-rain",
    "author": "cwa",
    "send": 1794626400000,
    "expires": 1794662400000,
    "title": "大雨特報",
    "subtitle": "大雨特報",
    "description": "臺北市松山區今晚有局部大雨，請注意。",
    "raw": "東北風影響，今（14）日基隆北海岸、臺北市山區及新北市山區有局部大雨發生的機率。",
    "lang": "zh",
    "area": [
      105,
      106,
      110
    ],
    "hasPolygon": false
  }
]

Show all（21 lines）

Not modified (If-None-Match matched). No bodyNo response body

region is not a number

{
  "error": "Invalid region"
}

Try it

Path parameters

regionRequired

Query parameters

langOptional

API token (optional)

Remember in this browserSend

The token is sent from your browser directly to the API.

Response fields

Same as Active events nationwide. description and raw differ. See description and raw.

Events from the last 3 days, nationwide

Events nationwide whose send is within the last 3 days, including ones that have expired.

GEThttps://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/history/list

Commercial OK

ServerTNN-1

Query parameters

• langstringOptionalDefault zh

  Query parameter. Language

Request

cURL

curl "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/history/list"

JavaScript

const res = await fetch("https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/history/list");
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);

Python

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/history/list",
    timeout=10,
)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())

Response

200304

Success. [] when there are no events

[
  {
    "id": "1794630005",
    "status": 1,
    "type": "earthquake",
    "author": "cwa",
    "send": 1794630005000,
    "expires": 1794716405000,
    "title": "地震報告",
    "subtitle": "地震報告 [115071]",
    "description": "11/14 12:16左右，花蓮縣近海發生地震。震源深度15公里，地震規模M5.1，花蓮縣觀測到最大震度4級。",
    "lang": "zh",
    "area": [
      970,
      971,
      972
    ],
    "hasPolygon": false,
    "addition": {
      "id": "115071-2026-1114-121630"
    }
  }
]

Show all（23 lines）

Not modified (If-None-Match matched). No bodyNo response body

Try it

Query parameters

langOptional

API token (optional)

Remember in this browserSend

The token is sent from your browser directly to the API.

Response fields

Same as Active events nationwide.

Events from the last 3 days for a township

Events whose area contains the township and whose send is within the last 3 days, including ones that have expired.

GEThttps://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/history/{region}

Commercial OK

ServerTNN-1

Path parameters

• regionintegerRequired

  Path parameter. 3-digit postal code, for example 105

Query parameters

• langstringOptionalDefault zh

  Query parameter. Language

Request

cURL

curl "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/history/<region>"

JavaScript

const res = await fetch("https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/history/<region>");
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);

Python

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/history/<region>",
    timeout=10,
)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())

Response

200304400

Success. [] when there are no events

[
  {
    "id": "1794626412",
    "status": 1,
    "type": "heavy-rain",
    "author": "cwa",
    "send": 1794626400000,
    "expires": 1794662400000,
    "title": "Heavy Rain Advisory",
    "subtitle": "Heavy Rain Advisory",
    "description": "Localized heavy rain is expected in Songshan District, Taipei tonight.",
    "raw": "東北風影響，今（14）日基隆北海岸、臺北市山區及新北市山區有局部大雨發生的機率。",
    "lang": "en",
    "area": [
      105,
      106,
      110
    ],
    "hasPolygon": false
  }
]

Show all（21 lines）

Not modified (If-None-Match matched). No bodyNo response body

region is not a number

{
  "error": "Invalid region"
}

Try it

Path parameters

regionRequired

Query parameters

langOptional

API token (optional)

Remember in this browserSend

The token is sent from your browser directly to the API.

Response fields

Same as Active events nationwide. The example above is ?lang=en: raw is still the original Chinese text.

A single event

Fetch one event by id. When it has an area, the response adds polygon (GeoJSON). Lists do not include polygon. When hasPolygon is true, call this endpoint to get it.

GEThttps://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/event/{id}

Commercial OK

ServerTNN-1

Path parameters

• idstringRequired

  Path parameter. The event id

Query parameters

• langstringOptionalDefault zh

  Query parameter. Language

Request

cURL

curl "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/event/<id>"

JavaScript

const res = await fetch("https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/event/<id>");
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);

Python

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev/api/v2/dpip/event/<id>",
    timeout=10,
)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())

Response

200304

Success. [] when this id does not exist

[
  {
    "id": "1794632460",
    "status": 1,
    "type": "thunderstorm",
    "author": "cwa",
    "send": 1794632400000,
    "expires": 1794636000000,
    "title": "大雷雨即時訊息",
    "subtitle": "雷雨即時訊息",
    "description": "氣象署發布大雷雨即時訊息，持續時間至 14 時。",
    "lang": "zh",
    "area": [],
    "hasPolygon": true,
    "polygon": {
      "type": "FeatureCollection",
      "features": [
        {
          "type": "Feature",
          "properties": {},
          "geometry": {
            "type": "Polygon",
            "coordinates": [
              [
                [
                  121.56,
                  25.03
                ],
                [
                  121.57,
                  25.04
                ],
                [
                  121.58,
                  25.02
                ],
                [
                  121.56,
                  25.03
                ]
              ]
            ]
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
]

Show all（48 lines）

Not modified (If-None-Match matched). No bodyNo response body

Try it

Path parameters

idRequired

Query parameters

langOptional

API token (optional)

Remember in this browserSend

The token is sent from your browser directly to the API.

Response fields

The response is an array. Normally it has one entry. When the id does not exist it is [] (200). Fields match Active events nationwide, plus:

Field	Type	Description
[].polygon	object	Optional. A GeoJSON FeatureCollection. geometry is a Polygon, coordinates are [longitude, latitude]. Present only when hasPolygon is true. The geometry is simplified (error of about 22 m)

description follows the same rule as the nationwide endpoints (the nationwide original text, with no raw).

Event types

These are the types currently written as events. Display a type that is not listed (use a generic icon). Do not drop the entry.

type	Name	author	area	Area polygon	addition	Notes
heavy-rain	Heavy rain advisory	cwa	Township code	No	None	Has a per-area summary
extremely-heavy-rain	Extremely heavy rain advisory	cwa	Township code	No	None	Has a per-area summary
torrential-rain	Torrential rain advisory	cwa	Township code	No	None	Has a per-area summary
extremely-torrential-rain	Extremely torrential rain advisory	cwa	Township code	No	None	Has a per-area summary
thunderstorm	Significant thunderstorm advisory, tornado watch	cwa	[]	Yes	None	The title is a significant thunderstorm advisory or a tornado watch
earthquake	Earthquake report	cwa	Every township in counties or cities where intensity was observed	No	Earthquake report id	Expires 24 hours after it is issued
tsunami_note	Slight sea-level change	cwa	Coastal townships	No	Earthquake report id	Issued when magnitude is 6 or greater, depth is within 30 km, and the epicenter is at sea. Expires 24 hours after it is issued
debrisFlowLandSlide	Debris-flow and large-scale landslide alert	Issuing agency from the source	[]	Yes	None
barrierLake	Barrier-lake alert	Issuing agency from the source	[]	Yes	None
roadClose	Road closure	Issuing agency from the source	[]	Yes	Closure location
floodSensor	Flood sensing	wra	[]	Yes	Sensor station
seawave	Wave observation (high waves)	ncdr	[]	Yes	None	Issued when a coastal station reports a wave height of 6 m or more. Expires 3 hours after the observation
workSchlClos	Work and school suspension	dgpa	Township code	No	None
reservoirDischarge	Reservoir discharge	wra	Township code	No	None	Not enabled. It does not appear

Rain advisories from lightest to heaviest: heavy-rain, extremely-heavy-rain, torrential-rain, extremely-torrential-rain.

Extra data (addition)

Only some types include addition. Any of these fields may be omitted:

Type	Shape
earthquake, tsunami_note	{ "id": "earthquake report id" }, which you can use with earthquake reports
roadClose	areaDesc (area description), county, town, roadName, location, geocode, plus the source’s original polygon and circle strings
floodSensor	areaDesc, county, town, waterLevelStation (water-level station), waterLevel (water level), geocode, plus the source’s original polygon and circle strings

polygon and circle inside addition are the source’s original strings. To draw a map, use the GeoJSON polygon from /event/{id}.

description and raw

The four rain advisories (heavy-rain, extremely-heavy-rain, torrential-rain, extremely-torrential-rain) have the nationwide original text and an automatically generated per-area summary.

Endpoint	Other events	Rain advisories
Nationwide lists, /event/{id}	description is the original text. There is no raw	description is the nationwide original text. There is no raw
Township list, and that township has a per-area summary	Does not happen	description is that township’s summary. raw is the nationwide original text
Township list, but that township has no per-area summary	description is the original text. There is no raw	description is the nationwide original text. There is no raw

A rain advisory appears first as the original text. The per-area summary is filled in later (usually within a few minutes), so description for the same id can change. Use the latest response. Do not cache the body by id. On a request for another language, if that township’s summary has no translation yet, description uses the translation of the nationwide original text first.

Advanced examples

Draw the areas of active nationwide events in MapLibre GL JS. The list has no polygon. For an event with hasPolygon set to true, request A single event to get the GeoJSON.

const API = "https://api.core-tnn1.exptech.dev";

// 1. Active events nationwide, sorted by issue time, newest first (response order is not guaranteed)
const events = await fetch(`${API}/api/v2/dpip/realtime/list`).then((r) => r.json());
events.sort((a, b) => b.send - a.send);

// 2. For events that have an area, fetch the single event and add polygon as a GeoJSON source
for (const e of events.filter((e) => e.hasPolygon)) {
  const [event] = await fetch(`${API}/api/v2/dpip/event/${e.id}`).then((r) => r.json());
  if (!event?.polygon) continue; // [] when the event does not exist
  map.addSource(`dpip-${event.id}`, { type: "geojson", data: event.polygon });
  map.addLayer({
    id: `dpip-${event.id}`,
    type: "fill",
    source: `dpip-${event.id}`,
    paint: { "fill-color": "#ef4444", "fill-opacity": 0.25 },
  });
}

Notes

• Time unit: send and expires are Unix milliseconds. id is also a time number, but it is Unix seconds, and it is only an id.
• Response order is not guaranteed. Sort by send yourself, newest first.
• A query with no data returns [] (200), which is a different status from 404. The only 400 is when region is not a number.
• Active and last-3-days use different conditions. An event that has expired but was issued within 3 days is only in history. An event that has not expired but was issued more than 3 days ago is only in realtime.
• Events are kept for at most 7 days. After that, /event/{id} cannot find them either.
• The response has an ETag (an MD5 without quotes). If-None-Match may include quotes or not. On a match the response is 304 with no body. The ETag covers the whole response, including the language and the translation at that moment, so include the full URL (including lang) in the cache key. The server does not send Cache-Control.
• Responses support gzip (add --compressed to curl) and allow cross-origin calls.
• Sources: public disaster information from CWA, NCDR, the Water Resources Agency, DGPA, and other agencies.