Donations for Hualien flood victims hit nearly NT$1.4 billion

Taipei, Oct. 27 (CNA) Private donations to a Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) account for disaster relief in flood-hit Hualien County, eastern Taiwan totaled nearly NT$1.4 billion (US$45.57 million), the ministry said Monday.

The dedicated account -- the Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief (財團法人賑災基金會), which is administered by the MOHW -- received NT$1.39 billion from more than 310,000 donations as of 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 24, the deadline for contributions.

The account was opened on Sept. 25 at the Land Bank of Taiwan Changchun Branch (土地銀行長春分行), to provide relief funds after the Matai'an Creek Barrier Lake in Hualien's Guangfu township overflowed on Sept. 23, following heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ragasa.

The barrier lake breach and subsequent flooding had claimed 19 lives and left five other people missing, with an additional 157 victims injured. More than 1,600 households were affected by mudslides.

Out of the total donations, the foundation said, NT$829 million have been used as financial relief for the victims. The foundation added that residents in the disaster area who have applied for but have not yet received their assistance in the first stage of fund allocations are advised to contact the ministry's 1957 Welfare Consultation Hotline to inquire about the relevant procedures.

In the second stage of funding allocation, the foundation said, the funds will be allocated as aid to seven categories of disadvantaged households and as living allowances for the families of the deceased.

Remaining funds will be allotted for community reconstruction in the third phase of allocation.

The foundation said it will start to write and send receipts to those who made the donations to the dedicated account starting from November and the donations can be deducted from their income tax payment when they file a tax return in 2026.