Hualien: Private donations to a Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) account for disaster relief in flood-hit Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, totaled nearly NT$1.4 billion (US$45.57 million), the ministry announced.

According to Focus Taiwan, the dedicated account, known as the Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief and administered by the MOHW, received NT$1.39 billion from more than 310,000 donations as of 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 24, marking the deadline for contributions.

The account was initiated on Sept. 25 at the Land Bank of Taiwan Changchun Branch to provide relief funds after the Matai'an Creek Barrier Lake in Hualien's Guangfu township overflowed on Sept. 23. This overflow followed heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ragasa, leading to a series of devastating floods.

The breach of the barrier lake resulted in the loss of 19 lives, while five individuals remain missing. Additionally, 157 victims sustained injuries, and over 1,600 households were impacted by mudslides. Out of the total donations, NT$829 million has been allocated as financial relief for the victims. The foundation noted that residents in the disaster area, who have applied for but not yet received their assistance in the first stage of fund allocations, should contact the ministry's 1957 Welfare Consultation Hotline for information on the relevant procedures.

In the upcoming second stage of funding allocation, the foundation plans to distribute funds as aid to seven categories of disadvantaged households and as living allowances for the families of the deceased. The remaining funds will be directed towards community reconstruction in the third phase of allocation.

The foundation also stated that it will begin writing and dispatching receipts to donors starting in November. These donations will be deductible from donors' income tax payments when they file their tax returns in 2026.