Taipei: The Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief on Thursday announced the closure of an account established on July 21 for soliciting private donations for Typhoon Danas disaster relief efforts, which culminated in a total of NT$539 million (US$17.66 million).

According to Focus Taiwan, the foundation confirmed that the collected funds will be allocated to various initiatives supporting disaster relief, emergency medical aid, shelter, resettlement, and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the typhoon. The press release issued on Thursday highlighted that over 30,000 transfers were made, exceeding the initial goal of NT$500 million.

Significantly, 98 of these transfers amounted to NT$1 million or more, with NT$440,906,000 contributed by state-owned businesses affiliated with Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance. The foundation plans to distribute NT$200 million to local municipalities in central and southern Taiwan, aiding approximately 5,000 families affected by fatalities, missing persons, severe injuries, flooding, and property relocations.

Moreover, NT$330 million is earmarked for assisting around 1,100 households belonging to underprivileged groups, including those with physical disabilities, low-income senior citizens, or single senior citizens. An additional NT$50 million will be provided as financial support to about 200 disadvantaged families to alleviate their burdens.

To address the shortfall as the total required amounts to NT$580 million, the foundation committed to using its own finances in addition to the NT$539 million raised. Typhoon Danas, which made landfall in Chiayi County’s Budai Township on July 6, led to widespread power outages, water supply disruptions, property damage, and flooding across central and southern Taiwan. The Ministry of Health and Welfare initiated the dedicated donation account on July 21 for disaster relief purposes.