Matsu was also devastated by Tropical Storm Lupit Saturday in what''s referred to as the worst disaster to hit the outlying islands in 20 years. In Qinbi Village, a popular tourist destination with well-preserved traditional buildings, two storehouses had collapsed, and 11 cars destroyed. Water and electricity had also been cut off. On Sunday, the army sent more than 100 troops to the village to clean up the debris, an operation that local authorities estimate would take three days to complete.
In the aftermath of extremely heavy rain, entire roads were covered under a layer of ocher. Military personnel, each with a shovel in hand, worked tirelessly to clear the area of debris.
In the hardest hit Qinbi Village, the troops were busy helping villagers clean up their storehouses. Even construction vehicles were deployed to speed up the work.
This car was stuck in the mud. Though extricated by a crane truck, it’s already been severely damaged.
Xu Pei-lun
Local hotelier
As for losses, well, we’ve lost our cars. More importantly, tourists cannot come in. As for food, the Township Office will look for help from other villages.
Just a day ago, the heavy rain turned stone steps into rapids and miniature waterfalls. Pictures provided by a local villager show that a rockfall had left a hole in this tin roof. A mudslide had also rearranged parked vehicles and gutted building foundations.
Over in Nangan Township, the flood was knee-high. Tropical Storm Lupit brought the worst disaster Matsu had seen in nearly 20 years.
Chen Tian-sui
Manager, Queen of Heaven Temple
Currently, villagers say there’s no water, no electricity, no internet or phone connections. As for reconstruction, we will have to see what the government plans to do.
In the wake of the disaster, local authorities are looking to the central government, hoping that it will soon approve river management initiatives and improve the drainage system, so that they would be spared from landslides next time a storm strikes.
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