Taiwan News
Date: 2015-08-11
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – New Taipei City Vice Mayor Hou Yu-ih was cut off from the
outside world for a time Tuesday afternoon after a road near the devastated district of Wulai collapsed.
Following the passage of Typhoon Soudelor last weekend, the mountainous New Taipei district turned out to have suffered serious damage. The area is popular as a weekend destination for its hot springs and indigenous culture.
Hou and New Taipei fire department chief Huang Te-ching were part of a delegation of officials visiting the area when the road reportedly collapsed again after a first round of repairs. Nobody was reported injured, however.
Hou and the members of his delegation reportedly walked around the spot, at the 10.2 kilometer mark of Highway No.9, and waited outside for transportation out of the area.
By 4 p.m., the road had been repaired and rescue teams were able to move back in, reports said. Hou said that the New Taipei City Government, the military and private groups would do their best to disinfect the area within three days in order to prevent disease from breaking out. [FULL STORY]