TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Thursday the central government will pay for hotel stays and rebuild a vital bridge after flooding from a landslide lake overflow in Hualien.

On the third day of flooding from the Matai’an Creek overflow, Lai visited Guangfu Township and made an unscheduled stop at Matai’an Church, per CNA. He greeted displaced residents and assured them the government would help.

“If you feel staying here is inconvenient, you can move to a guesthouse or hotel, and the central government will pay,” Lai told victims at the shelter.

The Matai’an Creek Bridge on Provincial Highway 9 collapsed on Tuesday after heavy rains from Typhoon Ragasa. Lai ordered a temporary bridge within a month and laid out plans for a steel temporary span followed by a permanent replacement, with NT$2.45 billion in costs covered by the government.

Hualien County Councilor Tsai Yi-ching (蔡依靜) said residents were scrambling to clean their homes but lived in fear of repeated warnings like “the water is coming again.” She urged the central government to ensure timely and reliable updates.