Taipei, Sept. 20 (CNA) A total of 438 schools around Taiwan weredamaged by Typhoon Fanapi and the flooding it triggered, with themost costly damage occurring at the country's universities andcolleges, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said Monday afternoon.

"The total damage is estimated at over NT$251 million, " said LinTsong-ming, the deputy education minister.

The new figure was considerably higher than Sunday's preliminaryestimate of 40 schools suffering damage, and with many schools insouthern Taiwan still flooded, the toll could rise further.

According to Lin, 33 universities and colleges sustained anestimated NT$142 million in damage, followed by elementary schools atover NT$60 million.

Wenzao Ursuline College of Language in Kaohsiung was the hardesthit of any institution of higher education, suffering damageestimated at over NT$100 million.

Nineteen schools around Taiwan will still be closed on Tuesdaydue to flooding and disruptions in transportation.

Among them, 16 will resume classes on Sept. 23, and WenzaoUrsuline College of Language and Chung Hwa University of MedicalTechnology will be re-opened on Sept. 27, Lin said.

Because National University of Kaohsiung was still flooded as ofMonday, the ministry said it would have to wait for floodwaters torecede before determining when it could re-open.By Sunnie Chen

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