The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Tuesday expressed condolences over the torrential rains in China that killed at least 30 people in Beijing, while Chinese authorities said no Taiwanese were among the casualties.
The rains began on Wednesday last week and peaked on Monday, causing severe flooding in Beijing and surrounding provinces. Reuters reported on Tuesday that at least 30 people died in the capital, with eight more deaths in nearby areas.
“The government expresses condolences to those affected in mainland China, offering prayers for the deceased and wishing the injured a speedy recovery,” the MAC said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
Photo: AFP
The MAC said that southern and central Taiwan have also been hit by continuous heavy rains, and expressed hope that losses on both sides of the Taiwan Strait could be minimized and recovery efforts proceed smoothly.
The MAC said it had asked the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), a semi-official body handling cross-strait affairs, to gather information on the flooding and check on the status of Taiwanese citizens in affected areas, and urged Taiwanese in the affected areas in China to pay attention to safety.
The goal is to “facilitate the provision of necessary assistance,” the MAC said, although it did not detail what form that aid might take.
At a news conference in Beijing yesterday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said that no Taiwanese have been reported injured or killed in the disaster.
The China-run Taiwan Affairs Offices across the country would assist Taiwanese individuals and businesses if needed, he added.
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