Up to NT$500,000 in aid for Tainan earthquake victims

TAINAN (TVBS News) — Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) announced on Thursday (Jan. 23) a relief initiative following the Jan. 21 earthquake, promising up to NT$500,000 in condolence payments to those injured. This measure mirrors the response to the 2018 earthquake in February, aiming to provide swift support to affected residents.

The magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Chiayi County's (嘉義縣) Dapu Township (大埔鄉) early Jan. 21, causing severe damage in Tainan, with cracked walls and fallen debris. Mayor Huang noted that the city government has activated emergency response mechanisms, focusing on expediting disaster relief before the Lunar New Year.

The Taiwan Professional Civil Engineers Association (土木技師公會) and the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations, R.O.C. (結構工程技師公會) are assisting in assessing building safety. Residents with red-tagged homes will receive NT$20,000 per person, capped at NT$100,000 per household. Those with yellow-tagged homes will receive NT$4,000 per person, up to NT$20,000 per household.

Additionally, the city government will provide two-month monthly business subsidies of NT$25,000 to Nanxi Market (楠西市場) vendors who have lost income. Efforts to ensure housing safety will continue, with up to NT$2 million available for repairing damaged structures and NT$3 million for demolition, aiding residents in rebuilding their homes.

As Tainan recovers, the city government remains committed to supporting its citizens through financial assistance and structural safety evaluations.