Cabinet rules out imposing a state of emergency to handle disaster efforts

Under the government's compensation program, a family of a deceased victim will be offered NT$500,000; seriously injured victims will receive NT$200,000. Compensation for collapsed buildings will start at NT$200,000, while owners of other damaged buildings will be eligible to receive at least NT$100,000.

Minister of Interior Huang Chu-wen (黃主文) said yesterday that the ministry is still seeking to increase the amount of compensation by using emergency funds from the Cabinet budget.

Other financial assistance, announced yesterday by the Ministry of Finance, will include a package of domestic tax and tariff breaks. The ministry is also working on a set of guidelines that will enable victims of the earthquake to be eligible for low-interest bank loans.

Taiwan Cooperative Bank (台灣省合作金庫), the Land Bank of Taiwan (台灣土地銀行) and the Farmers Bank of Taiwan (中國農民銀行) all announced offers of low-interest loans specially designed for victims of natural disasters. The finance ministry reminded all victims to keep records of their losses for future use when they claim their qualifications for the tax breaks and special loans.