The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus is expected to propose a reconstruction relief bill for Super Typhoon Ragasa and the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) barrier lake collapse, which flooded Hualien County's Guangfu Township (光復).
As of 9:30am today, 18 deaths and 121 injuries had been reported, while six people were still missing, the Central Emergency Operation Center said.
Two shelters were housing 236 people, the center said.
Photo: Hua Meng-ching, Taipei Times
The red alert for the barrier lake would remain in place, it said, adding that its water level had dropped by 118.5m since the collapse.
The Legislative Yuan last month passed a relief package, with a budget ceiling of NT$60 billion (US$1.97 billion) for reconstruction after Typhoon Danas, which already included support for Hualien, the Executive Yuan said yesterday, adding that it would propose an additional budget when needed.
That would be the most effective way of dealing with the situation, and hopefully, the legislature would support it, the Executive Yuan said.
The KMT’s proposal would have to be thoroughly discussed, as the special budget for reconstruction in areas hard hit by Typhoon Danas already include areas affected by the barrier lake collapse, Democratic Progressive Party caucus secretary-general Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) said.
The government could use the relief package for Typhoon Danas for now, and further discuss whether there is a need for another special act or special budget, Taiwan People's Party Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) said.
The KMT caucus would propose a special act for reconstruction in Hualien as soon as possible, KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said.
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