At Thursday's weekly Cabinet meeting, Premier Cho Jung-tai offered his deepest condolences to the victims of the Matai'an Creek Barrier Lake overflow caused by Typhoon Ragasa. He also led attendees in a minute of silence. The premier noted that some individuals remain missing and that rescue operations are ongoing, with all personnel fully engaged and seizing every opportunity in hopes of achieving the best possible outcome.
During the meeting, Premier Cho was briefed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Executive Yuan's Department of Transportation, Environment and Natural Resources on the progress of recovery operations following the overflow disaster. To accelerate overall recovery and help residents return to normal life as quickly as possible, the premier said the Executive Yuan had swiftly established a forward coordination post under the Central Emergency Operations Center in Hualien, mobilizing all available personnel and resources to ensure an effective response and expedite reconstruction.
The premier pointed out that, following the disaster, the government has carried out rescue and recovery operations in phases according to established planning: first, saving lives; second, assisting in the rebuilding of homes; third, clearing waste and silt; and fourth, restoring local transportation and the environment. The operations aim to help residents return to basic living conditions by the Mid-Autumn Festival, he said. More comprehensive reconstruction will follow, covering private housing, agriculture, industry and public infrastructure. The government will also conduct a thorough review of the disaster's causes and overall emergency response to address shortcomings, clarify responsibilities, and enhance early warning and prevention capabilities for future extreme weather events.
Premier Cho noted that, as the formation of the Matai'an Creek Barrier Lake occurred after Typhoon Danas, all of Hualien County has been designated as a disaster-affected area under the recently passed special act for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction following Typhoon Danas and the extremely heavy rainfall that started on July 28. The Executive Yuan is working with urgency to calculate the funding required to provide financial assistance for reconstruction and relief, and will soon propose amendments to the special act with a corresponding increase in budget, currently projected at NT$20 billion (approximately US$657.6 million). The premier expressed hope that all party caucuses can support the proposed amendments and the subsequent special budget to ensure the swift and comprehensive delivery of financial assistance.