Continuous torrential rains brought by tropical storm Mindulle yesterday caused more devastating damage to the center and south of the country, raising the death toll to 18 with 10 others missing, officials said.
The latest victims were a mother and a son buried alive by landslides at Puli, Nantou County, said the National Fire Agency.
Rescuers found a third victim, who was previously listed as missing, on Penghu.
PHOTO: TUNG CHEN-KUO, TAIPEI TIMES
More damage is expected as weather forecasters said yesterday that the heavy rains might not an end until Wednesday.
According to the Council of Agriculture, initial agricultural losses are estimated at NT$1.85 billion (US$55 million), including loss of crop land worth NT$1.46 billion, NT$65.42 million in animal deaths, NT$224.15 million in fishery losses and NT$91.97 million for forestry losses.
Officials said that about 33,595 hectares of crop fields had been damaged, 1.1 million fowl have died, more than 4,500 hectares of fish farms have been destroyed and nearly 900 hectares of forest has been ruined.
PHOTO: TUNG CHEN-KUO, TAIPEI TIMES
In addition, the council might need to spend about NT$511.27 million reconstructing damaged facilities needed by fishing ports and irrigation systems.
Council officials said Yunlin County has suffered the highest agricultural losses so far -- NT$481.67 billion -- followed by Nantou County with NT$327.32 million and NT$300 million for Hualien County.
Three hydroelectric power plants along the swollen Tachia River have flooded, causing equipment damage estimated at NT$10 billion, the state-run Taiwan Power Co said.
"As the communication with the staff at the power plants was cut off, the extent of the damage was not clear. The cost was calculated for the worst scenario," a Taipower spokes-woman said.
The 0702 Flood Disaster Relief Center led by Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh (
As of yesterday, 81 townships in 12 jurisdictions had been deemed as vulnerable to landslides and mudflows.
"We have suggested that local governments evacuate residents in these danger areas as soon as possible," Ho said.
As of yesterday, the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau had evacuated more than 1,000 residents living in dangerous areas.
After inspecting Nantou County yesterday afternoon, Minister of the Interior Su Jia-chyuan (
In Chiayi County, 62 percent of families in coastal Tungshih township, or roughly 5,400 households, have been inundated by floodwaters since Mindulle struck.
As rains weakened yesterday the Water Resources Agency's mobile pumps helped lower water levels in the township.
However, officials warned that rising waters in Pachang Creek in Chiayi County and the Kaoping River dividing Pingtung and Kaohiung counties have created a dangerous situation and they urged people to avoid river embankments.
The Central Weather Bureau said rainfall amounted to 1,500mm over the past three days, including 694mm in Kaohsiung County and 433mm rain on Alishan yesterday.
Weather forecasters said residents in the center and south should remain alert for more heavy rains today and tomorrow and people in mountainous areas should be on the alert for landslides, mudflows and mountain torrents.
The storm has brought southern Taiwan's worst flooding in 25 years.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators yesterday urged the government to take more precautions to mitigate the possible effects of landslides and mudflows.
"Although the amount of rainfall brought by Mindulle is rare, we still need to make more efforts not only to preserve our soil and land but also ensure residents' safety," DPP legislative caucus whip Tsai Huang-lang (
Mindulle also battered southeastern China yesterday, where a mother and her son drowned after falling out of a boat on a lake in Huzhou city, about 140km southwest of Shanghai, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Also see story:
Charities add funds, workers to official typhoon aid efforts
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
FOUR DESIGNATED AREAS: Notices were issued for live-fire exercises in waters south and northwest of Penghu, northeast of Keelung and west of Kaohsiung, they said The military is planning three major annual exercises across the army, navy and air force this month, with the navy’s “Hai Chiang” (海強, “Sea Strong”) drills running from today through Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The Hai Chiang exercise, which is to take place in waters surrounding Taiwan, would feature P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, the ministry said, adding that the drills aim to bolster the nation’s offshore defensive capabilities. China has intensified military and psychological pressure against Taiwan, repeatedly sending warplanes and vessels into areas near the nation’s air defense identification zone and across
A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would severely threaten the national security of the US, Japan, the Philippines and other nations, while global economic losses could reach US$10 trillion, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) wrote in an article published yesterday in Foreign Affairs. “The future of Taiwan is not merely a regional concern; it is a test of whether the international order can withstand the pressure of authoritarian expansionism,” Lin wrote in the article titled “Taiwan’s Plan for Peace Through Strength — How Investments in Resilience Can Deter Beijing.” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) intent to take Taiwan by force