Taipei: Taiwan Railway Corp. (TRC) announced Friday that it will add 10 extra trains to its regular schedule from Saturday to Monday to transport volunteers to Hualien County. The initiative aims to bolster disaster relief efforts following massive floods in Guangfu Township, caused by the overflow of the Matai’an Creek Barrier Lake due to heavy rainfall from Typhoon Ragasa.
According to Focus Taiwan, the catastrophic floods have resulted in 15 fatalities and left eight individuals missing. Numerous residents have been forced to evacuate and are currently residing in shelters. The region is covered with mud and debris, necessitating a significant cleanup effort. Government agencies have struggled to provide adequate support, prompting volunteers to mobilize on Friday to assist affected residents and begin the cleanup process.
TRC shared images of arriving volunteers and decided to increase train services to facilitate more volunteers traveling to the affected area. The company has categorized the volunteers into different “supermen” groups, such as “shovel supermen” and “cooking supermen,” praising them as the island’s guardians who have united Taiwan with their selfless contributions.
In addition to the 10 extra trains, TRC will increase the number of regular trains stopping at Guangfu Railway Station. It will also allow standing tickets on these trains to maximize the number of volunteers who can reach the disaster-stricken area.
