Students in Guangfu will go back to school on Tuesday

Students in Guangfu will go back to school on Tuesday

2025-10-06

Schoolchildren in Hualien’s Guangfu Township will be heading back to class on Tuesday for the first time in more than a week. Though the damage from the flooding is still evident, school campuses are ready to resume classes and bring back some normalcy to students. Let’s hear from two school principals.

Huang Chien-jung
Guangfu Junior High
Everything has been destroyed. We estimate damage to be at more than NT$100 million. It’ll take at least a year to go back to how it used to be. For now, our baseball team is training off site.

Huang Tung-fang
Guangfu Elementary
We got school bags and class materials without any problems. The water tanks are also here, and we’re getting water supplied by trucks from the utility company.

Seven schools were affected by the disaster. They expect 20 students won’t be able to make it back to class just yet, so they’ll get their education via teleconference. The schools have prepared all the necessary materials, and arranged transport for students living in shelters, so that learning can continue.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#student #school #schoollife #classes #guangfu

中秋連假結束災區清淤有成光復7所國中小明復課

2025-10-06

中秋連假最後一天，花蓮災區學校加緊復原腳步，準備迎接明天復課，光復國中有志工與國軍進駐協助清掃，另外光復國小也完成教室清淤，供電供水穩定。

[[光復國中校長黃建榮]]
“(全部)都毀了，這樣初估起來應該會上億。整個恢復的時間可能要，至少要一年，才能恢復到以往的樣子。我們預計棒球隊移地訓練，會採取移地訓練的方式給學生。”

[[光復國小校長黃彤芳]]
“孩子進來書包、上課的東西，基本上沒什麼問題。水塔也都進來了，那水的部分就是自來水公司，他的水車隨時會補。”

光復鄉共有七所國中小學受災，恢復正常上課後，估計仍有20人無法到校，必須透過視訊，校方已備妥新教材與視訊設備，也安排交通車接送住在安置所的學生，盡力讓孩子的學習不中斷。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Ordinary wooden ladder saves 25 people, 2 cats from flood zone

Guangfu Township in Hualien County is still digging out from the disastrous flooding caused by the overflow of the Matai’an Creek barrier lake. A retiree from Taipei who moved to the area happened to leave his wooden ladders out after harvesting longan when the floods hit. It’s good he did, because one of those ladders ended up being the key to saving 25 people and two cats.

A loader is used to clear dried mud from the ground—one of many piles of earth left behind by flooding caused by the overflow of the Matai’an Creek barrier lake. Considering how much cleanup there is left to do, it’s clear the flooding was severe.

During the flood, this building near the intersection of Zhongzheng Road Section 1 and Linsen Road in Guangfu was nearly entirely submerged. This wooden ladder ended up being crucial to saving many lives: 25 adults, three children, and two cats.

Mr. Wang
Affected homeowner
I went on the roof to pick longan, and didn’t put the ladder away when I was done. Two people got swept by this tree and held onto it. Then the people already on the roof set up the ladder over there for them to grab onto.

When he got back home, Wang found his entire house was full of mud and everything inside was destroyed. The vehicles in front were in disarray, and there were many wooden ladders around. Just as he was wondering what happened, people came to thank him. He then remembered he forgot to put away his ladder after harvesting longan. Turns out that his forgetfulness saved lives.

Mr. Wang
Affected homeowner
I’ve planted two or three hundred plants. Some have been there for 20 or 30 years. They were all submerged. We came here to become farmers after retiring. Even if we wanted to save the plants, there was no way. The house isn’t even clear yet.

A retiree’s simple life as a farmer was ruined by the flood. Volunteers are still helping him clear out his orchard. He may have unintentionally saved many lives, but Wang stayed modest. He said if he never harvested longan, he wouldn’t have left the ladder, so maybe everyone should thank the longan tree instead.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Owner brings horse to public field for physical rehabilitation

When a Hualien resident went to the Meilun Track Stadium to exercise recently, they were surprised to see a horse trotting on the field. After all, what are the chances of running into a horse while out for a jog? According to the owner, the horse was injured and needs to be rehabilitated, which is why they went to the field. But Meilun has posted a public notice saying that large animals are not allowed.

Reins in hand, the owner and his horse trot side by side through the field. The sight baffled local residents, as this isn’t a racecourse or a farm, but a sports field.

The brown horse is named Caramel. Due to an injury on its right foot, Caramel needed to rest for over a month. Now it’s starting rehabilitation, which is why the owner took it to the field.

Voice of Mr. Wang
Horse owner
Normally I would go to the beach, but the ground is more uneven there, which may not be so suitable for the early stages of rehabilitation. I was looking for a field with more even terrain, and thought of the Meilun track. I explored the field before taking it here.

The owner brought the horse here for rehab, but many Hualien residents of all ages come to the track to exercise every day. Some wondered if bringing a horse there is safe or even legal.

Yang Yueh-chin
Hualien sports health director
Unless it’s a service dog, which are generally permitted, other similar animals, including large animals like horses, require a formal application. They need to obtain approval from the Department of Education for the desired activities before we can allow them to take place.

Mr. Wang brought Caramel here for short-term rehabilitation exercises. They didn’t impact other people exercising or harm the field—staff even inspected the grass afterward to make sure. But for safety reasons, the stadium posted notices forbidding large animals such as horses and cows, and plans to increase patrols in the future.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#horse #trackandfield #publicfield #rehabilitation #rehab #injury #horseinjury #safety #exercise #Hualien

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Convenience store invests NT$15m in daycare center for staff

More parents are working these days, posing the question of what to do about daycare. To ease this burden for its employees and match government childcare policies, one convenience store chain invested NT$15 million to open a daycare center, where professional caregivers, nurses, and cooks are on staff to take care of employees’ children aged up to two years old.

After getting off of work, a parent comes by this daycare center to pick up her child. The center was set up by a convenience store chain for the use of its employees, who can work at ease knowing their children are well taken care of.

The center is about 330 square meters and staffed by professional caregivers. There are cribs, a play area, and safety equipment. The parents don’t need to pay a registration fee, and diapers are provided for free.

Ms. Huang
Mother
I think it’s great, because for dual-income households, even just getting small children to and from daycare isn’t easy. This kind of daycare center, like I just mentioned, is there when we start and finish work, and is flexible with when we drop them off and pick them up.

The business invested NT$15 million into building the center in Taipei’s Zhongshan District. It’s staffed with professional caregivers, nurses, and cooks, who take care of children aged up to two years old. It’s in operation from 7:30am to 5:30pm, with overtime possible until 7:30pm. There are five benefits parents can enjoy, including free registration, no late fees, free school supplies for the first year, and free diapers. They can also apply for a government subsidy that may cover the full cost.

Wu Tsai-hua
Convenience store PR director
For this, we chose to open our own center. It’s important to give our staff peace of mind. We also have some limited spots available for the children of contract employees. Right now, we’re applying to be classified as a semi-public daycare center, so that in the future, if we still have availability, we can open it up to other parents as well.

As more parents are entering the workforce, daycare centers like this one run by companies can help working parents no longer worry about childcare.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Taiwanese consume more than 1 billion cups of boba every year

For a nation that invented bubble tea, it’s hardly surprising that Taiwanese like their boba. In fact, they drink a whopping more than a billion cups of it a year. There are 16,000 beverage stores scattered across the nation, and 40 new stores open every month. The beverage store business is lucrative but also fiercely competitive. If store owners don’t understand the flavor of the moment, their businesses will quickly collapse.

Over here, three drink shops are side-by-side. Across the street, another two are next to each other. Boba is ubiquitous, everyone is holding a drink. Taiwanese people drink a whopping 1.07 billion cups of boba every year, and 40 new beverage stores open every month.

Tang Shih-ching
FTV reporter
There are five beverage stores just within our sight. On this street alone, there are 17 shops within less than 300m of each other. Look around, and everyone is having a sip.

Member of the public
I’ll drink whatever’s been popular recently. I like drinks with chewy things. There are many stores and they are all located close together, so I can look at every one, and drink whatever I want.

Tea on its own, or with milk. There’s something for everyone. Taiwan’s annual beverage production value is estimated at NT$130 billion. Among all the beverage stores in Taiwan, over 70% are based in the six major cities.

Kaohsiung leads Taiwan in both numbers of beverage stores and sales. Beverage stores boast high gross profits, but, still, a steady flow of profits isn’t guaranteed.

Member of the public
Recently, a lot have been going under, and a lot of new ones are coming in. Usually when rents go up, they switch to another place.

David Hou
Restaurant PR
Competitive pressure mainly comes from your product strength and profitability, which depends on your product R&D and procurement costs. Larger branded chain stores have an advantage. Small brands battling it alone in these areas are very likely to close down not long after opening.

There are multitudes of beverage stores and competition is fierce. If the owners fail to understand consumer preferences, they’ll be quickly eliminated from the market.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Independent toy store in Chiayi to close for good after 30 years

Jurassic Toys in Chiayi has been in business for 30 years, with their first customers now becoming parents themselves. It was once the biggest toy store in Southern Taiwan and a local landmark, but with rapidly falling birthrates lowering demand, the owners decided to retire once and for all.

For the first time in a while, Jurassic Toys in Chiayi is seeing good business. But it’s because there’s a clearance sale.

Shopper
Buying toys on clearance
I brought my kid here today to pick out toys he likes.

Shopper
Buying toys on clearance
Kids are having fun choosing something, and parents are having fun shopping too.

Shopper
Buying toys on clearance
I think we had this in the past, so it’s like a way to say goodbye to a memory.

The lease is up for the 30-year-old toy store, and the owner says he’s ready to retire. But Taiwan’s low birthrate also has something to do with it.

Lee Ting-mao
Jurassic Toys owner
People don’t get married when they reach a certain age, and if they do, they won’t have kids. At most they’ll have one. I feel that it’s difficult to keep going under these conditions. I’m also getting old, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to retire.

In the store’s heydays, it once made a revenue of over NT$1 million in a single day, and also hired up to five storekeepers to keep up with business. Now, the daily revenue rarely exceeds NT$5,000, and only the two owners keep things running. In the end, they chose to close up shop.

Chen Hui-ling
Jurassic Toys owner
The greatest sense of achievement comes from when I see the kids beaming with joy. Just seeing them smile makes us so happy.

The owner says it makes her happy just to see kids joyous over a new purchase. But those days are coming to an end. Many locals are visiting the store, perhaps for the last time.

Shopper
Grew up with toy store
They’re closing up, so we thought we’d come here for one last time for the memories.

Shopper
Grew up with toy store
This plastic bag will no longer exist after the store closes, so I’m going to frame it.

The toy store plans to close up shop once everything’s gone. When that day comes, what’s lost will be more than the store and the products it carries. A piece of many people’s childhood will also become a thing of the past.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Man on stolen motorbike caught taking donations away from flood victims

On Sunday, a Hualien police officer pulled over a scooter rider without a helmet, only to find out that he had violated more than just traffic rules. The man, who had travelled all the way from New Taipei, did so on a stolen motorbike. Not only that, he also stopped by Guangfu Township to grab some “freebies” and snacks meant for survivors of the flooding.

– Whose motorbike is this?
– A friend’s.
– Where did you come from?
– Taipei. My boss wanted me here.
– Your boss wanted you to drive a scooter all the way here?

A police officer orders a scooter driver to pull over. The young man was thought to have violated traffic rules, but there’s actually more.

– Where did all this stuff come from?
– They were given to me.
– Who gave them to you?
– It’s for disaster victims.

The man claims that he’s on a business trip from Taipei to Hualien. But he’s transporting a large amount of biscuits and instant noodles given to survivors of the Guangfu flooding. Turns out the food’s stolen, and so is the scooter.

– You can’t even tell me who owns this scooter.

The 23-year-old man surnamed Liao had stolen the scooter on Oct. 3 and drove it all the way south to Hualien, which would have taken him six hours. After spending a night in Hualien, he stopped over at Guangfu Township to pick up multiple packets of biscuits and instant noodles meant for disaster victims. He only got pulled over by the police because he didn’t wear a helmet, but that ended up unveiling his entire heist.

Lee Kuan-ting
Hualien Research and Administration Department
The most important thing was to help disaster victims, so we don’t do identity checks whatsoever. Anyone in need can pick up supplies.

Lai Po-han
Hualien County Police Bureau
The scooter the man was driving was stolen. He was arrested on the spot. The case is dealt with as theft caught in the act, and will be filed with the Hualien District Court for investigation.

According to police, what is known about the man so far is that he’s not from Hualien and has no criminal records. It seems unfathomable why he would decide to steal a motorbike and travel so far just to pick up some snacks.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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South African apple imports cut after diplomatic spat with Taiwan

Apples from South Africa have all but disappeared from shelves, and it’s no coincidence. What started as a diplomatic dispute over Taiwan’s representation in South Africa has now turned into a high-stakes trade standoff. Taiwan has responded not just by limiting apple imports, but by weaponizing one of its most powerful assets, semiconductors. And it seems the pressure is working.

The apples here come from all over the world: the US, New Zealand, Japan, but not South Africa.

Shopper
Can’t find South African apples
I think they’re mostly from New Zealand, so that’s what we buy. Stores rarely carry apples from South Africa.

Taiwan imported 99 tons of apples worth US$102,000 from South Africa from January to August this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. It’s a steep drop from the same period in 2024, where there were 2,696 tons of imported apples reaching US$3 million. Imports shrunk by 96%, and South Africa fell from No. 6 to No. 10 as a top apple provider.

Voice of Wu Ling-hsiang
Think tank
South Africa depends on Taiwan for more than selling apples. Diplomacy is about giving and taking, so Taiwan is willing to make the effort and fight for its own best interests.

South Africa forced Taiwan to rename and relocate its de facto embassy away from the administrative capital, Pretoria. Taiwan responded by restricting apple imports and for the first time imposing controls on chip exports.

Voice of Wu Ling-hsiang
Think tank
Academically, this would be referred to as “exercising power,” which is built on your resources. Taiwan is a leader in the world when it comes to semiconductors, which make semiconductors a strategic resource. This resource can be weaponized to grant Taiwan power, in a way.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says South Africa wants to negotiate, which could be a sign that Taiwan’s “chip diplomacy” is working. While restrictions have been suspended, it remains to be seen whether they will return to what they were before.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#apples #southafrica #chips #trade #taiwan

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