TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan has brought in 60 new mobile water pumps to replace aging units in flood-prone areas as part of a wider push to step up flood control.

Tainan City Government said Tuesday the new pumps are able to run non-stop for more than 24 hours and will be sent first to districts that flood often. The government also held an inspection at a pumping station in the city's Xinshi District to test the machines under long-hour operation.

Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) noted that the city secured a NT$35.76 million (US$1.14 million) subsidy from the economics ministry and added NT$53.64 million from its own budget. Huang said the spending is high but worth it because it helps protect lives and cuts flood risks.

CNA reported Tuesday that Tainan now has 511 mobile pumps, one of the highest numbers in Taiwan. The city's Water Resources Bureau pointed out that some of the old machines are more than 15 years old and pump inefficiently or break down easily.

The new units use industrial-grade engines and are easier to move, which lets crews roll them out faster when storms hit. Officials said the timing matters because even though it is not typhoon or plum rain season, this is the best window to check gear and fix weak spots before heavy rain rolls in.