Taiwan: Worst Flooding in 25 Years Leaves 22 Dead

TAIPEI, Taiwan, July 6, 2004 (ENS) - At least 22 people have been killed and 14 others are missing as Typhoon Mindulle swept across central and southern Taiwan, packing 75 mile per hour winds and causing the island's worst floods in a quarter century.

Mudslides buried houses and rescuers battled muddy floodwaters to evacuate 161 trapped villagers in mountainous regions in Nantou and Taichung counties in central Taiwan Sunday.

The assessment report compiled Saturday by branches of the Taiwan Red Cross Organization, show that Chi-chi village which borders the Juo-hsuei Stream, and the villages of Guo-hsing and Ren-ai were among the hardest hit areas in Nantou County.

Typhoon Mindulle blasts across Taiwan (Satellite image by Hal Pierce courtesy NASA)

The Red Cross urban search and rescue team, comprising over 50 search and rescue volunteers, accompanied the Taipei Fire Department fire fighters on search and rescue missions throughout the affected area.

President Chen Shui-bian has directed his administration to gear up for post-disaster relief and rehabilitation, Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General James Huang said at a news conference on Sunday.

Huang said Chen asked that top priority be given to rescuing those who are still missing.

The military deployed about 1,000 soldiers to rescue thousands of villagers and tourists trapped in mountainous regions without fresh water or electricity, officials said.

Huang said the president telephoned Defense Minister Lee Jye Sunday to ask him to mobilize troops to assist in post-disaster relief and rehabilitation work, particularly in cleaning up the environment and in disinfection work.

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian (Photo courtesy Office of the President)

The Taiwan Ministry of the Interior in coordination with the Red Cross is gathering relief supplies to distribute to shelters in the affected area. Additionally the government of Taiwan has issued an alert to 81 towns and villages encouraging residents to prepare for more flooding and mudslides.

The TRCO, supported by the International Federation, has been strengthening its disaster response capacity as a part of post-earthquake rehabilitation program funded by Japanese Red Cross and the American Red Cross.

Three hydroelectric power plants along the swollen Tachia River in central Taiwan were flooded, causing equipment damage estimated at NT$10 billion, the state run Taiwan Power Co. said.

Some 200 engineers and workers at five hydroelectric plants were stranded by swift moving floodwaters and mudslides, Taiwan's National Disaster Relief Center said.

Huang listed the most urgent tasks as resuming power and water supplies and repairing telecommunications and transportation facilities in all flooded areas.

Before hitting Taiwan, the typhoon killed at least 32 people in the Philippines and left 11 others missing, according to the Philippine National Disaster Coordination Centre.