Premier Jiang Yi-huah today inspected a section of Beining Road near the Bisha fishing port in Badouzi, Keelung City on which a large boulder and residential home fell during separate mudslides caused by torrential rains yesterday. He expressed his concern for all who suffered due to the storm and the government's willingness to provide aid to the afflicted.
The rain was brought by Taiwan's first autumnal front of the year, which followed Tropical Storm Kong-Rey. "Natural disasters can cause unexpected harm during the flood season," the premier remarked.
Another mudslide in southern Taiwan yesterday blocked the entrance of the Pingtung Fangshan No. 2 tunnel, sending a southbound Taiwan Railways Administration Tze-Chiang Express train which collided with it off the rails and causing minor injuries to more than ten people.
"These storm clouds have not yet passed. The Central Weather Bureau forecasts that heavy rains could continue into Monday," the premier remarked, warning citizens and first-line rescuers to maintain high vigilance. "I hope that we can ride out every storm and live in peace," he said.
"From this case, we can see that there is not a direct relationship between the size of a typhoon or the location of its wind circle and its impact on communities," the premier explained. "Though Typhoon Kong-Rey passed through the waters to our east, it caused heavy rain in central and southern Taiwan and linked with the autumnal front to bring torrential rain to the north."
The central government will provide NT$20,000 (US$667) of emergency relief to any household which suffers more than 50 cm (19.7 in) of flooding, Jiang said. Any household whose residence collapses during a disaster will receive compensation of NT$20,000 per person to assist with moving expenses. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's emergency relief fund provides subsidies of NT$10,000-30,000 (US$335-1,004), and the Relieve Disaster Foundation also distributes aid of about NT$10,000-30,000 per household.
"These are the subsidies the government may distribute to disaster victims according to the law," the premier said. In addition, the Keelung City Government and private organizations or individuals can raise money to help affected households to resume normal life as quickly as possible, and "the government would be very pleased to see that," Jiang added.
Speaking about the Beining Road cases, Jiang said that although the displaced citizens are temporarily living in Coast Guard quarters, the city government should continue providing them the appropriate assistance.
"As for the fallen boulder, it was broken up and removed this morning, and I hope the road will be quickly reopened so transportation is no longer handicapped," he stated.
Accompanying the premier on his inspection were Executive Yuan Spokesperson Cheng Li-wun, Deputy Secretary-General Chien Tai-lang and Office of Disaster Management Director Shih Tseng-kang as well as Research, Development and Evaluation Commission Minister Sung Yu-hsieh.