Heavy rains that have plagued southern Taiwan in the past days washed out roads leading into Hau Cha village, cutting off transportation to and from the village.

Mudslides also leveled thirty residences in the village, forcing residents to take refuge in a local church.

The village saw record rainfall of more than 1,000 mm within 24 hours Monday in the wake of two tropical storms — Pabuk and Wutip — which swept across Taiwan last week.

Yesterday, residents of the Hau Cha village expressed joy after being airlifted to safety.

The residents were airlifted in groups to Neipu rural township down the mountain to be sheltered temporarily at a farmers’ and workers’ activity center.

Many of the 150 airlifted residents of the village were returning from their second homes to participate in an aboriginal festival.

Officials said that the county government had proposed the relocation of Hau Cha village that was subsequently rejected by the villagers.

Officials said that the relocation of the village should be looked into again as the rain has affected the safety of the village.

Executive Yuan’s Council of Indigenous Peoples yesterday distributed NT$10,000 in subsidies to disaster victims of the Hau Cha village and requested that the village administration assist in the relocation of the victims.

CIP also said that it will work with the village administration in the reconstruction efforts, including housing, water, and the re-opening of roads leading into the village.

Pingtung County, Taiwan’ southernmost county, has suffered the heaviest agricultural losses in the country as a result of torrential rain over the past few days, county government officials said Tuesday.

According to the county government’s estimate, as of late Tuesday, agricultural losses due to the rain had increased to a total of more than NT$100 million (US$3.03 million).

Among the crops that suffered the greatest damage were bananas, melons and leafy vegetables.

The aquaculture sector recorded a loss of NT$2 million, with many fish ponds completely inundated and having lost all their fish.

The flooding had also drowned 290,000 chickens, washed away 40,000 ducks and killed 800 hogs, with losses amounting to NT$17 million.

The rain was brought to Taiwan by southwesterly air currents that came in the wake of two tropical storms — Pabuk and Wutip — which swept across Taiwan last week.

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung was scheduled to arrive in Tungkang coastal township yesterday to inspect the flood damage caused by the two storms.

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