《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Additional troops deployed to assist Taitung clean-up

/ Staff writer, with CNA

The military yesterday sent more personnel, machines and vehicles to Taitung County, the area worst-hit by Typhoon Neparak, to help with the clean-up and restoration.

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The Ministry of National Defense said 1,219 soldiers were dispatched to 15 locations, including 30 to Green Island （綠島）.

Due to a severe shortage of daily necessities on the island, the ministry has transported military rations and ready-to-eat meals for residents, the ministry said in a statement.

President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） reiterated on Facebook her directive that efforts must be made to help Taitung residents rebuild their homes.

Nepartak made landfall in Taitung’s Taimali Township （太麻里） early on Friday and left a trail of destruction in the county.

Three people died and more than 300 were injured during the storm, according to data provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

At its peak, Nepartak was packing gusts of more than 200kph. It weakened after making landfall and by Saturday morning, it was downgraded to a tropical storm and was making its way toward China.

Taitung County accounted for 79 percent of all agricultural damage in the nation caused by Nepartak, with losses of about NT$727.03 million （US$22.5 million）, according to Council of Agriculture data.

The military has since Thursday dispatched 14,800 personnel to Taitung County for rescue and disaster-prevention missions. They have so far helped with the evacuation and returning of 4,103 people, cleaned up 605km of roadways and transported 489 tonnes of waste, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Central Weather Bureau yesterday said there was strong precipitation in southern Taiwan yesterday morning, and more rain is expected.

In Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, as of 9am yesterday, the rainfall had reached more than 100 millimeters, it said.

Southwestern winds are forecast to become stronger nationwide and thunderstorms or short showers are expected through tomorrow in central and southeastern Taiwan, with occasional afternoon thundershowers expected for other parts of the nation, the bureau said.

Due to the strengthening southwesternly winds, a torrential rain warning has been issued for Chiayi, Yunlin, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung, while a heavy rain warning is in place for Changhua, Taitung and Penghu, the bureau said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES