Airlifts of basic necessities go on for Hsinchu villages

Helicopters dropped necessities to several Aboriginal villages in Hsinchu County yesterday that have been cut off for four days since Typhoon Matsa swept Taiwan last week.

Matsa caused heavy, lashing rains and blocked several roads serving Chienshih (尖石) village and the Wufeng (五峰) area of Hsinchu, interrupting their communication with the outside world. Several hundred residents there will soon run out of food.

According to Lin Hsiang-chin (林祥欽), head of the Hsinchu County Fire Department, the rescue helicopters from the National Fire Administration under the Ministry of the Interior have made 22 flights to bring out sick people and drop 2,000kg of rescue supplies during the last few days.

Hsinchu County Commissioner Cheng Yung-chin (鄭永金) said he felt sorry that Chienshih and Wufeng have been ranked as "frequent victim areas" because they suffer mudslides and road collapses almost every time there is a strong typhoon.

Cheng urged the Cabinet to map out a comprehensive resolution to the problem in his county.

Meanwhile, he also extended his gratitude to Lions Clubs Taiwan for the organization's concern for Aboriginal people and its donation of daily necessities worth NT$300,000 (US$9,418) to Aboriginal villages.