Full Speed Recovery Efforts After Typhoon Krathon: Mayor Chen Chi mai Applauds United Efforts in Kaohsiung's Post Typhoon Restoration

[Kaohsiung News] Deeply concerned about the ongoing recovery efforts following Typhoon Krathon, Mayor Chen Chi-mai chaired a municipal administrative meeting on the morning of Oct. 7, where he reviewed updates from various departments and district offices on the extent of the damage and the progress of restoration. With numerous fallen trees, damaged traffic signals, and disruptions to water and power supplies in some areas, Mayor Chen expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the city's civil servants, military personnel, village chiefs, volunteers, residents, and the additional support from neighboring regions. Their tireless efforts in disaster response and recovery have helped expedite the reopening of major thoroughfares. He also thanked Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) and the Taiwan Water Corporation (Taiwater) for their prompt action in restoring electricity and water supplies, enabling citizens to quickly return to normal life.

Mayor Chen further highlighted the scale of the recovery operation, noting that at least 3,000 military personnel and over 320 individuals from other counties and cities were mobilized, along with many residents who took the initiative to clean up their communities. He expressed deep appreciation for the solidarity and dedication of Kaohsiung's people, who came together in the face of adversity to restore their beloved city. He urged the Public Works Bureau, Transportation Bureau, and Civil Affairs Bureau to learn from this typhoon's impact, continuously review and enhance disaster prevention infrastructure, and strengthen the city's resilience against future natural disasters.

During a morning interview, Mayor Chen also reported that all 220 damaged schools have resumed regular operations, thanks to the joint efforts of the Education Bureau, Public Works Bureau, Environmental Protection Bureau, as well as teachers, parents, and volunteers. The student activity areas have been fully restored, and the Education Bureau will continue to support the removal of old and large trees on campus to ensure safety.

Regarding the city's transportation infrastructure, Mayor Chen reported that the city's main thoroughfares were successfully cleared yesterday, with traffic flow and monitoring systems functioning normally today. Efforts to remove large roadside trees are ongoing, and all major road lanes are now accessible. Out of a total of 641 damaged traffic signals, 291 have been restored. For the remaining signals, police officers and traffic personnel are assisting with traffic management, with plans to complete all repairs within a week.

Mayor Chen expressed his gratitude to President Lai Ching-te, Premier Cho Jung-tai, and central government agencies, particularly Taipower personnel, for their collective efforts in supporting Kaohsiung's disaster relief. He also extended his thanks to the village chiefs who stood at the forefront, empathizing with and assisting the affected residents. Mayor Chen mentioned that Premier Cho personally reached out to express his concern, ensuring that the central government would fully back the reconstruction efforts.

Mayor Chen outlined the next priorities, focusing on parks and agricultural damage assessments, particularly in the most affected areas of Dashe, Renwu, Yanchao, and Dashu districts. The cumulative agricultural losses have reached approximately NT$90 million, prompting a call for the Ministry of Agriculture's support for comprehensive cash assistance to swiftly compensate the farmers. In Linyuan District, losses of the fisheries sector have been estimated to exceed NT$10 million. Mayor Chen urged all relevant city agencies, district offices, and village offices to intensify public awareness campaigns while requesting that competent authorities adopt a "generous, flexible, and expedited" approach to quickly address the needs of the affected residents.

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Mayor Chen presided over the municipal administrative meeting to review damage assessments and recovery progress, expressing gratitude for concerted efforts of all in speeding up post-typhoon restoration. He emphasized the commitment to promptly assist citizens in overcoming challenges based on the principles of "generous, flexible, and expedited."