Lai pledges swift typhoon relief, details aid measures for southern Taiwan

Tainan, Aug. 9 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Saturday pledged full government support for residents in southern Taiwan hit hardest by Typhoon Danas last month, promising rapid restoration of daily life and stronger resilience against future disasters.

Speaking at a post-disaster command center in Tainan, Lai outlined immediate relief measures, including direct cash aid for all agricultural losses without on-site inspection, one-year interest-free disaster loans subsidized by the central government.

There will also be increased subsidies for damaged farming and fishing facilities -- from 50 percent to 80 percent -- covering items such as greenhouses, livestock sheds, rafts and fishing boats, he said.

Lai said the government would step in to repair homes, redeploy public works crews to assist rebuilding, and match workers to 2,100 households in urgent need of repairs.

He added that public projects could be paused, where safety allows, to free up manpower for disaster recovery.

The president also apologized to residents affected by the typhoon, which knocked down thousands of power poles and three high-voltage towers in Chiayi, left parts of Tainan without electricity for 19 days, and claimed the life of a Taiwan Power Co. worker.

"I offer my sincere apologies to all affected residents," Lai said.

To fund the recovery, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Thursday announced a proposed special act allocating up to NT$56 billion (US$1.87 billion) for reconstruction.

The budget, pending legislative approval, would cover infrastructure repairs, restoration of utilities, cultural heritage protection, and support for industries and households, and remain in effect until the end of 2027.