Typhoon Disaster Severely Hits Lanyu: Lanyen Foundation Urgently Needs Assistance

Super Typhoon Nepartak swept across southern Taiwan, and the outlying island of Lanyu bore the brunt, facing violent winds and torrential rain. The Lanyen Cultural and Educational Foundation campus, located on the windward side, was especially hard hit: the kindergarten, the museum, and the gymnasium inside the campus were all flooded with rainwater, and the already fragile tin roofs were torn open. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but after this disaster the campus buildings are a scene of devastation, and reconstruction work urgently needs to be launched.

Monitoring disaster prevention directly from the east, developing local thinking

However, Maraos pointed out that Lanyu is an outlying island, so the arrival of supplies and other resources is relatively difficult. If people from all sectors have the ability to help, the best way is to donate directly. He candidly said that he hopes this reconstruction and building repair can move in a direction consistent with Lanyu's culture and environmental protection, incorporating the concepts of semi-subterranean dwellings and slate houses, using local materials, and developing a reconstruction character that belongs to the local area, rather than the past official mindset of large-scale construction.

In addition, Maraos believes that Hualien-Taitung and Lanyu are places every year's typhoons must pass through, and the central government should directly establish a disaster relief command system and disaster prevention center in Hualien-Taitung, and conduct long-term geographical and climatic monitoring and analysis in Hualien-Taitung and the outlying islands. Only then can early warnings be made, rather than commanding from Taipei every time, which not only easily neglects the severity of matters, but also usually makes disaster relief too slow to meet emergencies when accidents occur.

Maraos said that in Lanyu's ancient tradition, typhoons are a way of washing nature clean. The people of Lanyu have no power to resist and must learn to respect them, humbly reflecting on themselves in the process. This is the attitude of the people of Lanyu, and he also hopes this disaster can promote cooperation between the outlying islands and the central government.

Cleaning up the Lanyen Cultural and Educational Foundation campus still needs some time to be handled. Starting today, the Lanyu Museum and the lodging area are temporarily closed to visitors and accommodation. Those who wish to lend a helping hand can directly contact the Lanyen Cultural and Educational Foundation.