While most businesses and financial markets battened down the hatches yesterday as Typhoon Sinlaku menaced northern Taiwan, some entrepreneurs were making the most of the commercial opportunities the bad weather had created.
One such businessman was Chen Wei-lun (
Normally busy at construction sites, Chen shifted gears Thursday night after several residents and building material store staff turned up at his company to buy bags of sand at a premium.
Located in Nankang opposite the Makro hypermarket, Chen said he had sold about 250m3 of sand and 200 30kg sandbags over the past few days.
With each bag selling for NT$50 -- many times the bulk prices he normally charges -- for Chen it was like selling bags of gold.
"We were all sold out by 5:30pm Friday. Many customers were from flood-prone Neihu and Nankang areas, with a few from other locations in Taipei," Chen said.
Meanwhile, across town, Tseng Kuo-chiang (
"As people's memory of last year's Typhoon Nari is still strong, many residents have lined up to buy sandbags since Thursday night," he said.
On Thursday, the Taipei City Government's Bureau of Public Works opened five construction sites where residents could make their own sandbags for free. But Tseng said the sand the city government was offering was of poor quality.
"What we have here is 100 percent sand, not what they offer -- 70 percent sand and 30 percent clay," Tseng said.
Tseng was filling bags at a slight discount to Chen, with 20kg bags going for NT$30 each. He said he would deliver them for an extra NT$30 per bag. By yesterday evening he had sold most of the 100 sandbags he had prepared.
The entrepreneurs predicted the money would continue to flood in as long as the rains fell.
Taiwan was expected to experience heavy rainfall and strong winds last night and this morning as Sinlaku headed across the northern part of the island. The typhoon is expected to bring up to 700mm of rainfall to mountainous areas, forecasters said.
People in low-lying areas were preparing for the worst, piling up sandbags at the entrances to their homes to keep the water at bay.
One resident who stopped by Tseng's company yesterday afternoon said his family had moved furniture and valuables to the second floor of their home, but he still wanted sandbags for extra peace of mind.
"Last year our house was flooded to the first floor ceiling," said Hsu Yu-fang (
While many businesses and home owners scrambled yesterday to prepare for potential flooding, some said they were helpless to stop flooding like last year's.
"Nothing, not even sandbags, will help keep the water out," said a menswear merchant surnamed Tu, as he pointed to the shoulder-high lines on his wall where flood waters had reached last year.
Tu's business is in the Sungshan district, a low-lying area which suffered greatly during last September when city pumps failed.
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