Premier visits flood-hit Tainan

Tainan, July 29 (CNA) Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said during a visit to flood-affected areas in Tainan on Tuesday that the Executive Yuan will establish a Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Flood Response Command Center to facilitate direct coordination between central and local governments in addressing related issues.

Cho visited parts of the southern city that experienced flooding on Monday due to heavy rainfall triggered by a combination of a low-pressure system and southwesterly winds. He noted that the flooding had caused losses for some businesses in Tainan.

To support these affected businesses, the premier announced that subsidies will be increased.

According to Cho, currently local governments provide NT$5,000 (US$168) in subsidies for those suffering flooding over 50 centimeters, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) provides them with NT$20,000.

An additional NT$10,000 will be granted to legally registered businesses and market vendors as further relief, Cho said.

Accompanied by Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) and Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲), Cho first went to Baihe District and Houbi District to review drainage improvement efforts.

They then proceeded to Houbo Ward in Houbi District, where they visited an elderly resident living alone whose home was affected by the floods.

Cho said that flood mitigation projects raised by local authorities will be prioritized in next year's multiyear flood control budget.

Citing weather forecasts that predict continued unstable weather conditions over the coming week, Cho said the Executive Yuan will establish a command center in the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan region to coordinate direct responses between the central and local governments.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has also instructed the military to fully assist with disaster relief efforts, he said.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Environment and other agencies will operate under unified command from this center, Cho added.