Cabinet approves special budget for typhoon and heavy rain aid

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) Taiwan's Executive Yuan on Thursday approved a special budget of up to NT$60 billion to support regions hit hard by Typhoon Danas and torrential rain in July.

The special budget bill, which still requires legislative approval, follows an aid package passed by the Legislature last week.

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While the aid package authorized the relief plan, a separate budget bill is required to release the funds.

Under the proposed special budget, the government can use up to NT$60 billion (US$1.97 billion) to fund recovery efforts in affected areas, including Miaoli County and regions south of Miaoli in western Taiwan and Hualien and Taitung counties in eastern Taiwan.

The proposed NT$60 billion in special allocations will be used to repair and rebuild infrastructure, electricity systems, telecommunications and cable TV networks, cultural heritage sites, and other public facilities.

In addition, the proposed funding includes support for private sector recovery -- including the agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and cultural industries -- and households that suffered financial losses through subsidies, compensation and other relief measures.

The package will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2026, with certain infrastructure projects allowed to continue until the end of 2027.

The recent inclement weather claimed two lives and injured more than 700 across Taiwan, with thousands of people forced to evacuate.

More than 1 million households experienced power outages, while 70,000 saw their water supply cut, according to government data.

In southern Taiwan, where agriculture and aquaculture are among the main economic activities, the two sectors sustained an estimated NT$3.28 billion in losses, the data shows.