Heavy Rain Closes Schools and Institutions and Disrupts Train Services in Taiwan
Heavy Rain Closes Schools and Institutions and Disrupts Train Services in Taiwan
Today, Monday, heavy rains sweeping across large areas of southern Taiwan have forced authorities to close schools and government institutions in several cities and counties. This comes alongside disruptions in railway services and preparations to face a typhoon expected to approach the island later this week.
Local authorities in the cities of Kaohsiung and Tainan, which together have a population exceeding four million, announced the suspension of schools and government office operations. The measures also include the regions of Pingtung and Chiayi, as well as the mountainous counties of Taitung and Hualien in the eastern part of the island.
For several days, southern Taiwan has been experiencing heavy rains and floods due to the continuing impact of a low-pressure system. Authorities in Kaohsiung expect the total rainfall over five days to exceed 1.3 meters.
The railway authority warned of potential disruptions in train services on the main eastern coastal line, especially for journeys to and from Kaohsiung, and between Kaohsiung and Taitung. Several high-speed train services have been canceled due to inclement weather.
Meanwhile, Taiwan is anticipating the approach of Typhoon “Saudel,” currently heading towards the Okinawa region in southern Japan. Forecasts suggest it will pass north of the island on Friday before heading toward the eastern coast of China.
Amid preparations for severe weather conditions, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, confirmed that all of its factories in Taiwan continue to operate normally after undertaking its usual precautionary measures against heavy rain.
Throughout the typhoon season, Taiwan frequently experiences intense rainfall, floods, and landslides, particularly in mountainous regions, prompting authorities to suspend schooling and work and impose transportation restrictions when risk levels rise.
