Politics

President Ma orders typhoon rescue operations

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou (center) oversees disaster prevention and management efforts at the Central Emergency Operations Center Aug. 2 as Typhoon Saola batters Taiwan. (CNA)

• Publication Date：08/03/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Grace Kuo

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said Aug. 2 that the central government would spare no efforts in assisting local communities affected by Typhoon Saola.

“The typhoon has brought torrential rains to the northern, northeastern, central and western parts of Taiwan, causing disasters in many cities and counties,” Ma said.

“An unprecedented 15 cities and counties implemented the disaster prevention evacuation plan, while the Council of Agriculture issued red and yellow alerts for a record high of more than 1,100 rivers and streams.”

As of 8 p.m. Aug. 2, Typhoon Saola had left five dead, 16 injured and two missing across Taiwan, according to the Central Emergency Operations Center.

Among those killed, two were from New Taipei City, one was from Chiayi County in southern Taiwan, and another two were from Yilan County in eastern Taiwan.

The tropical storm also caused blackouts in 219,270 households, mainly in Taichung, Taoyuan, Nantou and Yilan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.

“Taiwan Power Co. has sent more than 1,600 engineers and several excavators and crane trucks to restore electricity in the affected areas,” MOEA said. “As of 6:30 p.m. Aug. 2, power has been brought back to 90 percent of households experiencing blackouts.”

The CEOC added that the COA’s Soil and Water Conservation Bureau had issued landslide red alerts for 835 rivers and streams and yellow alerts for an additional 326 waterways. In addition, 6,707 people from 14 cities and counties have been evacuated, with 2,835 taking refuge in temporary shelters.

In addition, as of Aug. 2 agricultural losses nationwide have reached NT$218.54 million (US$7.29 million), with Hualien County experiencing the greatest loss, the COA said. “The damaged crops include bamboo shoots, bananas, cabbage, chaylte vines, leeks and watermelons.”

As of 10:15 a.m. Aug. 3, Typhoon Saola is centered 130 kilometers northwest of the offshore island of Matsu, moving northwest at a speed of 21 kilometers per hour. (HZW)

Write to Grace Kuo at mlkuo@mofa.gov.tw