Abrupt ferry cancellations due to a typhoon have stranded nearly 5,000 tourists and brought chaos to Nanliao Harbor on Green Island. Ferry service from Green Island to Taitung resumed on the morning of Aug. 4 with tourists and residents braving the rain to get on a ferry to Taiwan proper. Local fishermen even parked their boats at the harbor to prevent passenger ferries from docking and called on ferries to give local residents priority. Operators hope extra ferries can end the chaos.
Green Island residents and tourists line up to board Taitung-bound ferries. Residents were incensed when ferry operators said only tourists could board, and got local fishing boats to block the harbor and prevent passenger ferries from docking.
I have a medical followup at 8 a.m. tomorrow (following my appointment today). What am I supposed to do if I can't see the doctor today?
Ferry service was suspended on the 3rd due to Severe Tropical Storm Hagupit, leaving 4,800 tourists stranded on Green Island. Many local residents with seats already reserved on Taitung-bound ferries on the 4th were angered when ferry operators put them on standby to serve tourists first. The township chief and local representatives quickly arrived to help.
Green Island residents already have reserved seats. Some have chronic illnesses and they need (to get to Taiwan proper) to get their prescriptions refilled. Others only leave (Green Island) if they have to.
It seems like they don't have the capacity to serve all the people (trying to get on the ferries).
In the end, ferry operators agreed to three additional ferry runs to Taitung on the 4th for a total of 30 runs. Residents were not appeased, saying this is not the first time this has happened and whether ferries should give priority to residents or tourists should be clearly stated.