TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) assessed flood damage at Kuangfu Junior High School (光復國中) in Hualien Monday (Oct. 13) after the Maitai'an Landslide Lake overflow. The minister described mud reaching 1.5 meters deep on campus during his previous Sept. 25 visit. The school suffered nearly NT$100 million (around US$3.26 million) in damages from the disaster.
The Ministry of Education (教育部) plans to complete damage assessments by Wednesday (Oct. 15) and allocate reconstruction funds for the school. Cheng expressed gratitude to Hualien County Government Education Department (花蓮縣教育處) Director Weng Shu-min (翁書敏), Principal Huang Chien-jung (黃建榮), teachers, parents, and volunteers. Their collaborative efforts ensured students could return to school on schedule despite the extensive flood damage to campus facilities.
Principal Huang Chien-jung (黃建榮) reported that teaching has stabilized but initial exams will be suspended due to insufficient course connection time. Only two mid-term exams are scheduled this semester instead of the usual academic format. Huang warned students that damaged campus areas remain off-limits and marked with caution tape for safety, while advising against using the 25 available U-Bikes until road conditions improve significantly.
National Kuangfu Commercial and Industrial Vocational High School (光復商工), located near the junior high school, also suffered significant flood damage with estimated losses of NT$200 million (around US$6.53 million). The Ministry of Education will assist in comprehensive rebuilding efforts to restore teaching functions promptly. Both affected educational institutions in the Hualien area require extensive reconstruction work to resume normal operations. ◼
