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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Agriculture
Flood damages hit US$62m
The recent flooding in the south has caused damage worth NT$1.95 billion (US$62 million) to the country's agricultural sector, surpassing the old record posted for a summer downpour in June 1998, in which agricultural damage reached NT$1.91 billion. According to the latest statistics released by the Council of Agriculture yesterday, crop losses reached NT$1.08 billion, with 41,505 hectares of farmland affected. The heavy rains caused damage to the country's livestock industry at NT$183 million, the fishery sector at NT$676 million and the forestry industry at NT$2.52 million, with losses to equipment and infrastructure totalling NT$10 million, council officials said. The council will offer subsidies and low-interest loans to affected farmers. Meanwhile, the Central Weather Bureau lifted its warning for heavy rains at 4pm yesterday.

■ Environment
Refinery expansion opposed
Hundreds of residents in Linyuan Township, Kaohsiung County, protested yesterday against plans by the Chinese Petroleum Corp (CPC) to expand a refinery in the township. More than 600 people, organized by a local anti-pollution association, gathered in front of the oil refinery. Police blocked the entrance to prevent protesters from delivering a petition and isolated scuffles broke out. Township chief Huang Chau-cheng (黃兆呈) said since the CPC set up the oil refinery over 30 years ago, it has resulted in many disputes over environmental protection, while pollution it created has caused damage to local fish breeders. Residents can't endure the factory's existence any longer, he said. The confrontation between protesters and the police ended after a CPC security official took the petition from the protesters.

■ Athletics
Swim in Penghu begins
The 2005 Swim Across Penghu Bay kicked off yesterday, attracting 1,084 athletes from around Taiwan, officials of the Penghu County Government said. The first day of competition was divided into 3,000m and 500m races, with Penghu County Commissioner Lai Feng-wei (賴峰偉) and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) presiding over the opening. The youngest swimmer was an eight-year-old boy and the oldest was an 84-year-old woman. Several television stars also brought their families to compete in the annual event. Li Wei (李瑋) won the gold in the 3,000m event at 43 minutes, followed by Chen Kuan (陳冠) at 58 minutes and Wu Wen-bi at 71 minutes. Today's competition will focus on the 6,000m race, with 60 athletes competing.

■ Airlines
China Air uses orchid design
The first China Airlines (CAL) A330-300 cargo plane adorned with Taiwan's ubiquitous butterfly orchid on its fuselage arrived at CKS International Airport yesterday. The new design on the aircraft is part of a cooperative effort between CAL and the Council of Agriculture to promote Taiwan's high-quality agricultural products. CAL chairman Chiang Yao-chung (江耀宗) and vice minister of the Council of Agriculture, Lee Chiang-chuan (李健全) presided over a ceremony to welcome the arrival of the plane from France. Lee said that butterfly orchids are the flower export from Taiwan. Last year, Taiwan exported US$23.39 million in butterfly orchids mainly to Japan, the US, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and China, Lee said.

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