Close to 20,000 households in eastern Taiwan remained without power Saturday afternoon, a day after Typhoon Nepartak swept through the area. That’s according to figures provided by the Taiwan Power Company.
Nearly 18,000 of the households waiting for power are in Taitung County in southeastern Taiwan, which suffered the heaviest typhoon damage. Many households also remained without water Saturday, with Taiwan’s Central News Agency reporting that 8,000 households in Taitung County had no access to water as of Saturday morning.
The Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) says it expects to restore power to around 440 households in Taitung by 11:00pm on Saturday, with water to follow at midnight.
Meanwhile, the CEOC says that agricultural losses due to the typhoon exceeded NT$663 million (US$20.5 million). Farmers in Taitung County suffered more than US$19 million of damage. Taitung farmers will be eligible for financial assistance and low interest loans.
While in Taitung County to inspect damage Saturday, Premier Lin Chuan said that NT$300 million (US$9 million) in initial relief will be made available to Taitung farmers beginning Sunday, with more to follow as applications for relief require.