TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced new support measures for victims of flooding Friday (July 26) while touring parts of south Taiwan heavily affected by Typhoon Gaemi.
Even though the typhoon has moved off to China, the aftermath of the storm caused heavy rain in south Taiwan and in mountainous areas Friday. Taiwan’s three southernmost areas, Kaohsiung City, Tainan City, and Pingtung County, saw for the third consecutive day offices and schools closed.
Lai visited Meinong District in Kaohsiung City on Friday morning, touring orchards to view the damage caused by the typhoon and subsequent flooding. He added that the central government would increase financial support for victims of the disaster, Radio Taiwan International reported.
During the visit, Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said his government would pay NT$15,000 (US$457) to each household whose home had been flooded to a height of at least 50 centimeters, and NT$5,000 for lower water levels.
The president responded by promising NT$20,000 for victims of flood water reaching higher than 50 cm, and NT$10,000 for low and middle income families with flood levels lower than 50 cm. He added the measure would be valid for the whole country, not just for Kaohsiung City.
Lai praised the water management efforts of the past years, saying they had been successful in limiting the damage. Efforts would continue, adjusting measures to local conditions in order to mitigate the impact of climate change, he said.
