The central government has allocated NT$300 million (US$9.36 million) in relief funds for Hualien County, and has opened an account for the public to offer donations, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said yesterday.
Hualien was struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Wednesday, resulting in 10 deaths and leaving 1,099 injured. There are currently 660 people stranded due to road damage and 38 individuals cannot be reached.
The premier said the funds would be provided to the Hualien County Government for emergency use.
Photo: CNA
County residents would be eligible to obtain disaster relief and temporary subsidies covering their loss of income due to being unable to work and disaster victims would be exempt from paying their income tax this year, he said.
Chen, along with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), have also pledged to donate a month’s salary each.
The premier also said that the government plans to resume water services by today, adding that he hoped Taiwan Power Co would do everything it could to repair fallen power poles and restore power.
Separately, the Cabinet had instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish a special account to take in disaster relief donations, Executive Yuan spokesman Lin Tzu-lun (林子倫) said.
The ministry said it was accepting donations through bank transfers, crowdfunding platforms and LinePay until May 3.
Disaster relief accounts are being handled by the ministry-affiliated Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, and all donations to the account would be used for disaster relief and rebuilding efforts, the Department of Social Assistance and Social Work said.
Domestic donations can be made to account no. 102-005-19895-7 at the Land Bank of Taiwan Changchuen Branch (code: 005), while overseas donations may be made to the SWIFT code LBOTTWTP102 to the account named Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief at the same bank branch.
The crowdfunding platform for donations can be accessed at: https://wabay.tw/projects/0403twhl_earthquake?%20locale=zh-TW.
LinePay users can click on the “Donations” button and choose the “0403 Hualien Earthquake Fundraising Program” (0403 花蓮震 災募款專案).
Individuals and private organizations have also donated to relief efforts. The Lin Rong-san Foundation of Culture and Social Welfare, Union Bank, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) and RSL Corp yesterday said they jointly donated NT$30 million to disaster relief.
On Wednesday, prominent local companies and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) pledged to donate NT$156 million. Hon Hai Technology Group is to donate NT$80 million, while Gou is to also contribute NT$60 million individually, the company and YongLin Charity Foundation said respectively in a statement.
Taishin Financial Holding Co said it would donate NT$10 million, with 60 percent of the money allocated for relief efforts in Hualien County.
Electronics company Acer Inc pledged NT$6 million. Both Hon Hai and Acer said they would immediately remit the money once specific bank accounts have been designated by relevant authorities.
Additional reporting by CNA
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