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Military sends 2,000 soldiers to aid in storm relief

Military police join city workers in clearing Taipei's streets of debris from Typhoon Aere yesterday. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

The military yesterday sent more than 2,000 soldiers to assist other agencies in the aftermath of Typhoon Aere.

At the interior ministry's request, the army's 53th Division and military police assigned six V-150 armored vehicles and six 5-ton dump trucks to Sanchung's Tung-an (同安) Pumping Station, where some officials suspect the flooding started, to help local residents clean up their flooded homes.

The army's 178th Division also sent 300 soldiers to join the mission.

Yesterday the military police boot camp sent 1,370 soldiers to help clean Taipei streets and fix a flooded underpass on Keelung Road in front of the Taipei City Hall.

In Taichung, the army's 536th Division sent 90 soldiers to help clean up at Hou-li Incinerator, while the army's 269th Division assigned 90 troops to help in Yangmei and Shulin townships, and the 53rd Division sent 22 troops to Taoyuan County's Pade City.

"For us soldiers, to help victims is as important as fighting a battle. We will do our best to provide all necessary help under all circumstances," said Military Police Commander General Shen Shih-chi (沈世籍).

"We welcome requests at any time from local government leaders for help whenever it is needed."

Although the law requires local officials to file requests for help, Shen said local citizens are also welcome to ask when assistance is urgently needed.

In addition to the military's help, the Cabinet's Drought Disaster Relief Center (DDRC, 中央災害應變中心) said that it sent 30 10-wheeler trucks, one amphibious vehicle, five dump trucks and 300 two-tonne water barriers to the Sanchung pumping station, where work continued as of press time yesterday.

Special parking regulations for the storm expired at 5am today in the Taipei area.

The V-150 armored vehicle is an amphibious military craft that can carry 11 soldiers, with a top ground speed of 89kph and top water speed of 4.8kph.

The military last month donated four such craft to police to go after armed fugitives Chang Hsi-ming (張錫銘) and Chen Chin-hsiung (陳進雄).
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