TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) praised nationwide disaster response efforts Wednesday (Oct. 1) following catastrophic flooding from the Matai'an landslide dam overflow in Hualien's Guangfu Township (光復鄉). The president addressed the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP, 民進黨) Central Standing Committee meeting expressing gratitude for unprecedented cross-political support during the emergency.
Lai emphasized unprecedented political unity during the crisis, praising volunteer "superheroes" who mobilized across party lines for relief efforts. The president urged prospective 2026 mayoral candidates to prioritize disaster preparedness, specifically pre-rainy season silt removal and evacuation planning. He cited the successful evacuation of Dama Village (大馬村) as an exemplary model for future emergency responses.
DPP legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) credited zero fatalities in Dama Village to swift evacuation protocols, calling for enhanced crisis training in Taiwan's vulnerable remote regions. Drawing from his tenure as Tainan mayor, Lai emphasized establishing firm deadlines for pre-seasonal drainage system maintenance. The president stressed proactive infrastructure preparation as essential for preventing future disaster casualties.
Lai advised volunteers traveling to Hualien to prioritize personal safety while thanking Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) for establishing emergency command infrastructure. The DPP's central office created forward command centers and supply stations to coordinate relief efforts effectively. Indigenous Peoples Department head Kumu Hacyo (谷暮·哈就) has maintained continuous presence in the disaster zone for over a week, facilitating communication and supply distribution.
