Typhoon Champi caused more than NT$130 million in agricultural losses nationwide, with garlic hit hardest. Tourism over the Retrocession Day long weekend also suffered, and events and bookings in Xiaoliuqiu and Chishang were canceled one after another.
According to the United Daily News, the Ministry of Agriculture's Agriculture and Food Agency estimated total losses to farm produce and private facilities at NT$133.36 million as of 5pm on Saturday. Of that, NT$133.07 million was agricultural loss, covering 2,405 hectares with average damage of 25 percent, equivalent to 594 hectares with no harvest. Losses to private facilities came to NT$290,000, mainly damaged plastic-sheet greenhouses.
광고 문의 · 300×250Yunlin accounts for 82 percent; garlic hit hardest
By locality, Yunlin County was worst hit at NT$109.6 million, or 82 percent. Yilan County followed with NT$8.39 million (6 percent), New Taipei with NT$7.24 million (5 percent), Taoyuan with NT$3.46 million (3 percent), Taichung with NT$2.64 million (2 percent) and Hualien with NT$1.96 million (1 percent). Garlic suffered most, with 326 hectares affected, 39 percent damage and NT$53.07 million in losses, followed by peanuts, onions, sweet corn and tea.
Politicians also clashed over relief. According to reports from the United Daily News group, Kuomintang caucus whip Fu Kun-chi called for immediate relief and an increase in the old-farmer allowance to NT$15,000 a month. Democratic Progressive Party caucus secretary-general Chuang Jui-hsiung said relief must move quickly but criticized the opposition's proposal as a pre-election pledge that shifts responsibility onto the government.
Tourism takes a direct hit: Xiaoliuqiu occupancy falls from 80 percent to 10-20 percent
The tourism sector was hit hard as well. The United Daily News reported that the storm struck Pingtung and Taitung just before the Retrocession Day long weekend. Ferry service to Xiaoliuqiu was fully suspended, leaving the island cut off like a place on the far side of the world, and occupancy fell from about 80 percent to 10-20 percent. A B&B operator surnamed Li said this was the last big weekend before winter and bookings were canceled one after another. B&B occupancy on the Hengchun Peninsula also slipped from about 80 percent to around 60 percent.
In Taitung's Chishang, the autumn Rice Ear Art Festival was canceled. The local rehearsal on Friday and the performances on Saturday and Sunday were all called off, the first interruption in 17 years. Township Mayor Lin Chien-hung said three events have been canceled this year and called it a difficult and reluctant decision. Separately, more than 600 members of the Taiwan B&B Association were stranded in Penghu after flights on the 22nd were canceled following the group's national congress there, and Pingtung County association chair Yu Sung-hua said more than 70 of them were from Pingtung.
Nationwide casualty figures differ by outlet. The United Daily News reported one death, 634 injuries, 9,676 general disaster reports and, at one point, more than 350,000 households without power, while a Taipei Times headline put the injured at 616. The gap may reflect different tallying times, and the final figure has not been confirmed. The Central Disaster Response Center warned that the storm's outer circulation could keep affecting Taiwan for several more days.
