Torrential rain battered southern Taiwan on Monday, forcing schools and offices to close while disrupting rail services as authorities prepared for a typhoon expected to approach the island later this week.
A low-pressure system has remained over southern Taiwan for several days, bringing intense rainfall and triggering flooding in several areas.
Authorities in Kaohsiung and Tainan, which are home to more than four million people, ordered schools and offices to shut. Similar closures were announced in Pingtung and Chiayi counties, as well as the mountainous eastern counties of Taitung and Hualien.
The Kaohsiung government warned that total rainfall over the five-day period affected by the low-pressure system could exceed 1.3 metres, equivalent to nearly half of the city’s typical annual rainfall.
The extreme weather has also disrupted public transport. Taiwan Railway said services along the main east coast route would be affected, while trains travelling to and from Kaohsiung and Taitung would also face cancellations and delays.
Express services have been cancelled, while local train operations will depend on prevailing weather conditions.
Taitung county chief April Yao urged residents to remain indoors unless they had an essential reason to go out, highlighting the seriousness of the ongoing weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said Typhoon Saudel, which is currently moving towards Japan’s southern Okinawa region, is expected to pass north of Taiwan early Friday before continuing towards China’s eastern coast.
With heavy rain already affecting parts of southern Taiwan, authorities are continuing to monitor both the low-pressure system and the approaching typhoon for further impacts.
