The Executive Yuan and the Kaohsiung City Government (KCG) have reached the following five-point consensus on government relief and recovery efforts following the July 31 gas explosions in Kaohsiung:
1. With respect to the cost of reconstruction—according to a preliminary estimate, NT$1.9 billion (US$63.2 million)—the KCG will pay the first NT$300 million (US$10.0 million) by drawing from its disaster reserve fund, and contractor expenses over and above that sum will all be covered by the central government. The overall reconstruction project is to be split into eight different construction contracts, and the projects will be expedited so Kaohsiung residents may quickly return to their normal lives.
2. In order to resolve flooding issues in Kaohsiung, the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Water Resources Agency will set up temporary drainage facilities and equipment. This afternoon, 17 water pumps were set up in the disaster area to be used as needed. Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior has coordinated with the Tainan City Government and Pingtung County Government to make 20 mobile water pumps available to Kaohsiung when necessary to assure smooth drainage in the disaster area.
3. Although the suspected propylene leak in Kaohsiung this morning was found to be a false alarm after investigation, to avoid such an incident from occurring again the Environmental Protection Administration will station additional specialists in the city to assist with detection.
4. Because the weather in Kaohsiung is currently hot and humid, a dengue fever epidemic could break out at any time; hence the Ministry of Health and Welfare will station additional officials in the city to assist with prevention.
5. In order to help the disaster area quickly recover, the military will continue to send personnel to assist with reconstruction.
This consensus was reached at a meeting between Executive Yuan Secretary-General Lee Shih-chuan and KCG Deputy Mayor Liu Shyh-fang at Kaohsiung's emergency operation center today. Lee had been sent by Premier Jiang Yi-huah to coordinate solutions to disaster-related issues.
The premier is very concerned about the conditions in the disaster area, particularly because rain yesterday (August 7) caused flooding in the area and more torrential rains could follow next week, Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun stated today (August 8). The premier expects the central and local governments to join hands to accelerate reconstruction and help the victims to return to their normal lives.
According to Sun, this morning Lee met with Minister without Portfolio Yang Chiu-hsing, who is in charge of the central government's office for promoting coordination on relief and rescue efforts in the disaster area. After receiving Yang's recommendations, Lee met with Deputy Mayor Liu at the Kaohsiung emergency operation center. Following that meeting, Lee and other officials went to Ersheng Road and Sanduo Road in Qianzhen (Cianjhen) District to inspect their condition in the wake of the disaster.