Lost Artefacts Can’t Be Recovered… Is Taiwan’s Museum Disaster Prevention Ready?

“Taiwan’s museums each have their strengths, but few have comprehensive disaster prevention measures,” says art authentication expert Dr. Ye Guo-Shin, who has traveled extensively to museums around the world. He is frequently consulted by museums in Taiwan for disaster prevention planning. Dr. Ye acknowledges that while some museums have strong fire protection systems, others excel in earthquake resistance or theft prevention, but none have all bases covered. He suggests that Taiwanese museums keep up with evolving international disaster prevention methods and bring in external experts for assistance.

Museum Disasters: Lessons from the Past

2018: Brazil’s National Museum Fire—A Global Tragedy

In September 2018, Brazil’s National Museum was engulfed in flames, destroying 18 million priceless artifacts, including Luzia, the oldest human remains in the Western Hemisphere. The cause? A fire hydrant without water. This shocking oversight highlights how even a single failure in museum disaster prevention can result in irreplaceable cultural losses.

2001: Fire at Taiwan’s Prehistoric Culture Museum Destroys Indigenous Artefacts

A fire at the Taiwan Prehistoric Culture Museum in 2001 devastated 55 indigenous artefacts, including traditional woven fabrics and Tao canoes from Orchid Island, with damages reaching NT$8 million. Reports at the time suggested fire hydrants failed to function properly. Though a NT$17 million insurance payout was later secured, the lost artefacts could never be restored.

2006: Suspected Arson Destroys Taiwan’s Historic Forestry Museum

In 2006, a suspected arson fire destroyed the historic sawmill of the former Daxueshan Forestry Company in Taichung. The building, constructed from premium Taiwanese cypress, was completely reduced to ashes, along with rare wood specimens. Experts lamented that this was a catastrophic loss for both Taiwan’s cultural heritage and forestry industry, one that even billions of dollars couldn’t reverse.

2016: Fake Fire-Resistant Paint Scandal at the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum

In 2016, contractors supplied counterfeit fire-resistant paint—mixed with starch—to the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum. Initially, officials claimed only the public reception area was affected. However, further investigation revealed the fake coating had also been used on steel beams near artifact storage rooms. Concerned that a fire could cause the structural collapse of the entire storage area, the museum spent over NT$500,000 reinforcing the steel with certified fireproof materials.

Taiwan’s Museums Need a Unified Disaster Prevention Strategy

Dr. Ye Guo-Shin emphasizes that Taiwan’s museums must enhance their disaster prevention strategies by learning from international best practices rather than competing on individual strengths. He urges the Ministry of Culture to convene a national museum disaster prevention conference, bringing together government officials, museum directors, and experts to develop a comprehensive strategy.

“It’s not just about protecting artefacts—it’s also about ensuring public safety,” Dr. Ye stresses.

Source: United Daily News