By KHT Staff. Images via social media.
KAOHSIUNG — Heavy rain in Kaohsiung disrupted campaign schedules Thursday, with potential mayoral candidates from both major parties saying flood response should take priority.
The Kaohsiung City Government (高雄市政府) announced a citywide work and class suspension on Thursday and raised its disaster response center to Level 1 after days of heavy rain caused flooding in parts of the city.
KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩), the party’s Kaohsiung mayoral candidate, had been scheduled to appear on Friday with former Taiwan People’s Party Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) at Fudingjin Baoan Temple (覆鼎金保安宮). The event was canceled after discussions between the two sides, with organizers saying disaster response and public safety would come first.
The DPP candidate, Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆), visited flood-control sites early Thursday, including the Zhenzhou Pumping Station (鎮州抽水站) in Cianjhen District (前鎮區) and the Baoye Borough detention pond in Sanmin District (三民區).
Lai said residents should avoid unnecessary travel while work and classes are suspended, and said his team would coordinate with city and central government agencies to respond to local needs.
The storm also renewed debate over flood-control funding. Ko rejected criticism that she had been absent during the flooding, saying she was attending legislative duties in Taipei while monitoring conditions in Kaohsiung.
Ko said new flood-control project funding had passed the Legislature in March, but accused the Executive Yuan of failing to carry out the spending. She also said the central government had existing budget resources and disaster-relief funds available.
Lai said Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) had instructed city agencies to enter the disaster response center and prepare emergency resources. He said DPP lawmakers and councilors would continue working with the city to track damage reports and coordinate assistance.
Source: China Times.
