The Israel-Iran conflict continues to escalate, entering its 7th day, with multiple countries initiating evacuation operations. A Taiwanese traveler, Kang Cheng-Xuan, who was once stranded in Iran, has recently safely arrived in Turkey via land route and is expected to transit to Thailand from Turkey today (19th), completing her journey back to Taiwan.
Kang Cheng-Xuan, in an interview with the Central News Agency, revealed that she departed from the southern Iranian city of Isfahan on June 15, transferring by bus through Tehran to Turkey. She recalled that upon arriving in the capital Tehran, the atmosphere was tense, with people rushing to leave the capital, estimating over 3,000 people at the scene. She mentioned hearing consecutive explosions upon arrival, with locals mentioning hearing such sounds during the day as well. A loud blast occurred nearby, approximately just one kilometer away, causing panic and screams among the people present, with thick smoke rising in the distance.
Despite the tense atmosphere on-site, she did not feel overly panicked, stating that “local residents continued to live as usual, and media reports indicated that the attacks were mainly targeting government facilities.” She chose to remain calm and handle the situation.
Tehran’s traffic was chaotic, described by Kang Cheng-Xuan as a journey that should have taken two to three hours to cover 100 kilometers, but that day it took nearly 8 hours to arrive. She mentioned that bus tickets were in high demand, and it took her four hours to find a bus heading to the northwest of Iran. During the wait at the station, it was estimated that thousands of people were coming and going.
She eventually crossed the border into Turkey successfully late at night on the 16th and took another bus to Istanbul, a journey lasting about 2 days. Kang Cheng-Xuan mentioned that Iran was already restricted online, and recent conflicts led to severe internet disruptions, causing anxiety as she temporarily lost contact with family and friends. Furthermore, she encountered military checkpoints twice during her journey in Turkey via Istanbul.
As tensions escalate, many countries worldwide have initiated evacuation operations. US President Trump recently urged citizens in Iran to “immediately evacuate Tehran,” while countries like China, Ukraine, Italy, and Poland issued similar warnings and assistance to help their citizens evacuate.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on the 18th stating that since the 15th, a total of 20 nationals have entered Jordan through the Israeli border, with another 3 nationals in Iran safely arriving in Turkey by land. The ministry reiterated its call for citizens to avoid traveling to Israel and Iran for the time being for safety reasons.
The Israeli military announced on the evening of the 18th that multiple waves of airstrikes had been launched on Iran, targeting military facilities in and around the central part of Tehran. President Trump reiterated that Iran should “unconditionally surrender” and warned of a potentially critical moment next week. Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei responded with a stern stance, stating that “Iran is not a nation that will surrender,” adding another variable to the already tense regional situation.
(Translated from Central News Agency)