Thanks to warm support from all over the world, Kaohsiung will be strong！／感謝國、內外送暖 高雄加油！
Thanks to warm support from all over the world,
Kaohsiung will be strong!
◎English translation: Wendy Wei Chang
◎Photos courtesy of Kaohsiung City Government
Kaohsiung recently suffered its most serious gas explosions in half a century. Following the disaster, support from other countries and territories poured in. Every county and city in Taiwan also contributed to rescue efforts. Over 12,000 military personnel were dispatched to help search for survivors and restore basic services. Volunteers took care of survivors and artists composed songs for Kaohsiung. Everyone offered to help, giving Kaohsiung warmth, strength, and full support. Love goes beyond borders. As soon as they heard about the explosions, mayors and representatives from Kaohsiung's sister cities and twin towns got in touch with Kaohsiung City Government to express their thoughts and deepest condolences.
Governor Kabashima Ikuo and Deputy Speaker Shigemura Sakae of Kumamoto Prefectural Government in Japan, together with the representatives from the government and council, visited Kaohsiung on August 21. They hand-delivered a donation of 8.08 million yen (equal to NT$2.28 million or US$76,000) from Kumamoto Prefecture and expressed their sincerest sympathies. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, saying friends are best found in adversity, expressed deep appreciation for Kumamoto Government's support and was very touched by its friendship.
When the explosions happened, a group of teenagers from Kumamoto Prefecture were visiting Kaohsiung. A 12 year-old girl, Miss Ishihashi Rina, recalled that people from Kaohsiung offered tremendous support when Japan suffered an earthquake/tsunami disaster on March 3, 2011. Therefore, she decided to donate half her 10,000-yen travel expenses to help Kaohsiung. To express Kaohsiung's appreciation to Miss Ishihashi, Mayor Chen asked Governor Kabashima to bring her a framed news piece that reported her generous donation, along with a backpack bearing the words "Citizen of Kaohsiung."
Vice President of the Sendai International Relations Association, Mr. Mori Syuichi, also led a group of delegates to visit Kaohsiung on August 29. Their first stop was Kaohsiung City Government, where Mr. Mori conveyed warm regards from Sendai and contributed 315,000 yen (about NT$89,000 or almost US$3,000) raised by Sendai residents.
One of Kaohsiung's sister cities, Hachioji City, was also very concerned about the disaster. At the time of the explosions, the city was hosting its biggest festival of the year, the Hachioji Matsuri. The city's mayor and speaker led departmental leaders to organize a fund-raising event at the festival. Donation boxes were set up in Hachioji City Hall and other places and a total of 2.066 million yen (NT$583,000 or USD$19,500) was collected. Also, people in Kaga City showed their sympathy by generously donating 2.19 million yen (NT$618,000 or US$20,600).
The Japanese Association in Kaohsiung, a group established by Japanese migrants and Japanese businessmen, was second to none when it came to making donations. The association contributed NT$6.9 million, and expressed hope that Kaohsiung's effected neighborhoods can be restored as quickly as possible.
Mayor Chen stated that Kaohsiung will keep moving forward and continue to improve. The city will stay strong now and forever. She hopes everyone can support Kaohsiung!
感謝國、內外送暖 高雄加油！
◎文／黃大維
◎照片提供／高雄市政府
高雄遭逢半世紀以來最嚴重的石化氣爆，氣爆發生後，來自國內、外關懷及加油打氣不斷，各縣市政府支援救災機具及人力、國軍投入超過一萬二千人次人力，協助救災及復原、志工們安撫照顧災民、音樂人譜曲獻給高雄；各界伸出援手，給予高雄溫暖、力量和最堅定的支持。愛心無國界，外國的姐妹市首長、友好城市代表及國際友人都於第一時間致電或致函高雄市政府，表達深切的關懷和慰問之意。
日本熊本縣蒲島郁夫知事及重村榮副議長，於8月21日率熊本縣府和縣議會代表一行人，聯袂拜訪高雄市政府，當面轉交熊本縣各界捐助的善款約808萬日圓，並表達最誠摯的關懷。陳菊市長表示，風雨故人來，感謝熊本縣在此時送上溫暖，情誼令人感動。
氣爆發生之際，熊本縣「熊本青少年訪問團」正在高雄進行觀摩活動，其中一名小學5年級小朋友─石橋梨菜，感受311日本大地震時，高雄的朋友給予相當多援助，於是她把來台全部旅費一萬日幣捐出一半，幫助災區重建。陳市長特地將媒體報導裱框，再加上印有「高雄人」字樣的書包，請蒲島知事轉贈石橋同學，表揚她對高雄的關懷。
此外，日本「仙台國際交流協會」副會長守修一率代表團於8月29日訪問高雄，第一件事就是拜會高雄市政府，守副會長傳達來自仙台民間的溫暖關懷，並致贈仙台市民間善款共約31萬5千日圓，盼能藉此傳達心意。
日本八王子姐妹市同樣非常關切高雄石化氣爆，當地正舉辦年度最大的「八王子祭」活動，聽聞本市發生氣爆意外後，由八王子市市長、議長親率各局處首長，向參加活動的民眾發起首波募款活動，後續於市政廳等地設置募款箱，總計捐贈善款共約206萬6千日圓。此外，日本加賀市發揮人溺己溺的精神，捐贈善款約219萬日圓，而高雄日僑和日商組成的「日本人會」不落人後，踴躍捐贈達新台幣690萬元，企盼高雄災區早日復原重建。
陳菊市長表示，高雄會持續前進、轉型，現在與未來都不會被擊倒，希望大家為這座城市加油！