The threat of further damage in the wake of yesterday's earthquake topped the list of the government's concerns as Premier Tang Fei (
"To minimize loss of life and property, we are calling for the immediate evacuation of areas threatened by mudflows and landslides," said COA Chairman Chen Hsi-huang (
Meanwhile, Tang said in an address, said that the NT$200 million the government had previously allotted for mudflow prevention measures would be available as soon as possible.
PHOTO: HUNG SHAO-CHIN, LIBERTY TIMES
Tang's statement was made in an effort to calm the frayed nerves of the residents of central Taiwan in the wake of yesterday morning's tremor, measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale. Central Taiwan residents are still suffering from the effects of the devastating 921 earthquake last year.
The NT$200 million was allotted in May to the Council of Agriculture (COA) to conduct a mudflow and landslide prevention project. The project was scheduled to be completed by June 22.
However, yesterday's tremor and a forecast of heavy rain have accelerated the project.
The Central Weather Bureau yesterday issued a three-day torrential rain forecast which prompted COA officials to establish a special team in a bid to provide solutions to possible mudflow threats in the mountain areas.
To determine whether ongoing mudslide defenses in disaster areas will be able to stand up to this week's expected heavy rain, central Taiwan-based COA officials investigated several threatened areas yesterday afternoon.
In Wukung borough (
"We are worried about the heavy rain because defensive construction has not been completed," said resident Li Ming-tung (
When Vice Premier Yu Shyi-kun inspected Wukung yesterday afternoon, officials from the COA's Soil and Water Conservation Bureau (
"If residents refuse to have their land requisitioned, it is very difficult for [the government] to conduct landslide and mudflow prevention work," said the bureau's director-general, Chen Chih-ching (
Wukung is one of 65 villages in central Taiwan listed as "at risk" from potential mudflows by the COA after the 921 earthquake.
However, evacuating people from these villages has become a challenge for the government. Residents have often refused the conditions offered by the government for requisition.
Yu demanded that Nantou County Commissioner Peng Pai-hsien (
"All dangerous villages have to be evacuated, but the government will provide residents with several alternatives for their relocation," Yu said, after inspecting Wukung.
Nantou County Commissioner Peng requested Vice Premier Yu provide a special military rescue team, which would be in charge of managing mudflow and landslide-related crisis professionally.
According to a COA survey completed following the 921 earthquake, about 8,620.6 hectares of collapsed land in central Taiwan have caused 370 creeks or rivers to become a danger to residents, especially during the rainy season.
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