Premier Simon Chang (張善政) yesterday told government agencies to fly flags at half-mast next week to honor the victims of the earthquake that struck early on Saturday last week.
Chang issued the directive while visiting injured quake survivors at National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan.
He asked government agencies nationwide to fly the national flag at half-mast on Monday, the day when offices nationwide will reopen after the Lunar New Year holiday, and said a formal notice on the subject would soon be issued.
Photo: Johnson Lai, AP
The magnitude 6.4 quake that struck at 3:57am toppled more than 10 buildings, all in Tainan. The collapse of the 17-story Weiguan Jinlong apartment complex in Yongkang District (永康) has been the biggest source of casualties, causing 45 of the 47 confirmed deaths attributed to the quake so far, according to Tainan City Government statistics.
At least 548 people were injured in the quake.
As of noon yesterday, at least 94 people remained unaccounted for, all believed to be trapped in the Weiguan Jinlong ruins.
Chang later said that the government would pay NT$1 million (US$29,833) in “condolence money” to the families of each victim, and get the funds distributed as soon as possible.
The South Korean government has announced it will donate US$100,000 to Taiwan through the Red Cross to help the victims of the quake rebuild Tainan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late on Tuesday.
The ministry said the Seoul government has instructed the Korean Mission in Taipei to send its deep condolences to Tainan and express its willingness to help people affected by the disaster and reconstruct the city.
The ministry said Taiwan was grateful for South Korea’s generosity and had strongly felt its concern for people in Taiwan.
Canada has also sent its condolences.
In a statement posted by the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei on Sunday, Global Affairs Canada, which manages the country’s diplomatic and consular relations, extended its sympathy to the families of the earthquake’s victims.
The US state of Massachusetts, which in 1992 became a sister state with Taiwan, sent condolences to Tainan residents who suffered casualties and damage in the quake.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined
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