Three people have died and one remains missing after days of rain brought by a weather front and southwesterly winds, the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) said yesterday.
The fatalities were reported in Kaohsiung’s Shanlin District (杉林), and Hsinchu County’s Jhubei City and Hsinfeng Township (新豐) , while the missing person was from Sinpu Township (新埔) , also in Hsinchu County, according to CEOC figures as of 1 pm yesterday.
Meanwhile, a landslide-dammed lake on Hualien County’s Wanli River (萬里溪) reached about 70 percent of its capacity yesterday, prompting authorities to issue a red alert, the CEOC said.
Photo courtesy of a member of the public
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued an extremely heavy rain advisory yesterday, warning that the weather system could continue to bring intense downpours across much of Taiwan.
Localized heavy or extremely heavy rain was forecast for Yunlin County, while Nantou County, Taichung, Changhua County, Chiayi County, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung County were expected to see localized heavy rain.
Areas north of Miaoli, as well as eastern Taiwan and Penghu County, also faced a chance of heavy rain, the CWA said.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, extremely heavy rain that has pounded the country over the past week has caused agricultural losses totaling more than NT$95 million (US $2.98 million) as of yesterday morning, with most of the losses concentrated in southern Taiwan.
The ministry also announced yesterday that it will issue subsidies and provide low-interest loans to farmers in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County who have been hit hardest by the downpours, to help them restore their farmland.
According to updated agricultural disaster reports compiled by the ministry based on assessments submitted by local governments, Kaohsiung recorded the highest losses at approximately NT$49.25 million, accounting for 52 percent of the total, followed by Pingtung County with NT$37.89 million, or 40 percent, and Taoyuan with NT$6.16 million, or 6 percent.
Crop losses were estimated at NT$83.7 million. A total of 874 hectares of farmland was affected, with an average damage rate of 24 percent, translating into 209 hectares of complete crop losses.
Guavas were the hardest-hit crop, with 183 hectares affected and an average damage rate of 30 percent, resulting in losses of NT$32.34 million. They were followed by papayas, chives, pineapples and melons.
Losses in the livestock sector were estimated at NT$5.77 million, with chickens accounting for the largest share at NT $3.64 million, followed by pigs, ducks, and geese.
Aquaculture losses were estimated at NT$5.74 million. Giant river prawns sustained the greatest losses at NT$4.4 million, followed by bass and tilapia.
