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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Disasters & Emergencies

Taiwanese Farmland Damaged by Seawater Inundation; City to Develop Compensation Plan

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Seawater inundated farmland in Wugu, Taiwan, on July 17 due to a failure to close a floodgate, causing high soil salinity.
  • Farmers report that rice crops withered within days, and the high salt content may render the land uncultivable for several years.
  • City officials are working to clarify responsibilities and develop a fair compensation plan for the affected farmers.

Farmland in Wugu, Taiwan, suffered extensive damage after seawater inundated fields on July 17, following a failure to timely close a floodgate. The incident has left the soil with high salinity, leading to widespread crop loss and concerns about future cultivation.

The city government needs to speed up compensation and clarify responsibilities.

— Wang Li-renTaiwanese councilor urging swift action from the city government regarding the flood damage.

According to local councilors, many rice crops withered within two to three days of the saltwater intrusion. The high salt content in the soil is expected to impact harvests for the next two to three years, devastating farmers who rely on their crops for livelihood. Farmers are demanding compensation for their losses and assistance with soil rehabilitation, estimating that the city should compensate approximately NT$54,000 per unit area for lost crops and soil restoration costs.

The soil salinity reached 9, and rice crops cannot survive in such an environment. Future harvests may be affected for two to three years.

— Wang Li-renDescribing the high salt content in the soil and its impact on crops.

City officials acknowledged the severity of the situation, with the Civil Affairs Bureau stating that they are accelerating efforts to clarify departmental responsibilities and formulate a reasonable compensation plan. The incident occurred when a patrol officer opened a floodgate during desilting work and failed to close it promptly, coinciding with a high tide, which allowed seawater to flood the agricultural land.

We will accelerate the clarification of responsibilities and formulate a reasonable compensation plan with a responsible attitude.

— Wu Shi-weiCivil Affairs Bureau Director assuring farmers of the city's commitment to resolving the issue.

So far, 55 individuals have reported losses affecting 318 plots of land, totaling approximately 19 hectares. The city government is continuing to assist with land restoration and is processing national compensation claims to ensure the rights of the affected farmers are protected. The delay in determining responsibility has caused significant anxiety among farmers worried about their immediate financial stability and the long-term viability of their land.

We have received reports from 55 people, involving 318 plots of land, covering an area of about 19 hectares.

— Civil Affairs BureauProviding statistics on the extent of the damage.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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