As the death and injury toll in earthquake-struck Turkey rises, cash donations have flowed from across Taiwan, with more than NT$271.77 million (US$9.02 million) received as of Friday, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said in a statement yesterday.
More than 43,000 donations had been made through a dedicated account as of 5pm, the ministry said.
With NT$83.53 million in the account the previous day, Friday’s total represented a NT$188.24 million one-day jump in donations.
Photo courtesy of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
More than 20,600 people were killed in Turkey and 3,500 in Syria, according to officials in the region, after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck on Monday.
Many Taiwanese companies and other organizations pledged donations, including IC packaging and testing services provider ASE Technology Holding Co (日月光投控), which on Friday said it would donate NT$10 million.
Asustek Computer Inc (華碩), which has about 100 employees at a branch in Turkey, is encouraging its employees in Taiwan to contribute, and had raised more than NT$5 million as of Friday, a person at the company said.
Elevator and escalator manufacturer Golden Friends Corp (GFC, 崇友實業) and the GFC Foundation (崇友文教基金會) said they had jointly donated NT$8 million through the ministry’s dedicated account.
The Taiwan Stock Exchange, Taiwan Futures Exchange, Taiwan Depository and Clearing Corp (台灣集中保管結算所) and the Taipei Exchange together donated NT$4 million.
The Rong San Lin Foundation of Culture and Social Welfare (林榮三文化公益基金會) on Thursday pledged NT$10 million. Mr Rong San Lin (林榮三) founded the Taipei Times and its sister paper, the Liberty Times.
China Medical University Hospital has pledged NT$5 million.
President Chain Store Corp (統一超商), which operates 7-Eleven convenience store franchises in Taiwan, has teamed up with Taiwan World Vision to allow cash donations at kiosks at any 7-Eleven branch, or by using the Open Point app.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei yesterday said that it must stop accepting relief supplies at its office, as it has received more than it can handle.
The office said in a statement that it is grateful for the generosity and kindness of Taiwanese who have donated money and goods to assist earthquake victims, with the quantity being more than expected.
The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation in particular has helped collect winter clothing and other cold-weather necessities for displaced earthquake survivors facing freezing weather conditions.
Taiwan has also sent two search-and-rescue teams totaling 130 members and five search dogs to help find survivors.
TRAGEDY STRIKES TAIPEI: The suspect died after falling off a building after he threw smoke grenades into Taipei Main Station and went on a killing spree in Zhongshan A 27-year-old suspect allegedly threw smoke grenades in Taipei Main Station and then proceeded to Zhongshan MRT Station in a random killing spree that resulted in the death of the suspect and two other civilians, and seven injured, including one in critical condition, as of press time last night. The suspect, identified as a man surnamed Chang Wen (張文), allegedly began the attack at Taipei Main Station, the Taipei Fire Department said, adding that it received a report at 5:24pm that smoke grenades had been thrown in the station. One man in his 50s was rushed to hospital after a cardiac arrest
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day. Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments. The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan
RSS