TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Keelung City Government on Tuesday lowered the rainfall threshold for suspending work and classes to 200 mm over 24 hours.

Liberty Times reported that the previous standard was 350 mm but did not reflect local risks in a city with steep terrain. The new rule introduces a flexible system with area-based assessments and phased activation.

Deputy Mayor Chiu Pei-lin (邱佩琳) said more than 95% of Keelung is hillside, and heavy rain often accumulates quickly. She said this can lead to landslides, falling rocks, and flooding even before national thresholds are reached.

Fire Bureau Commissioner Yu Chia-yi (游家懿) said the old standard followed central government rules but was not suitable for Keelung’s conditions. The city has adopted supplementary guidelines to better match local disaster risks, EBC reported.

Researchers from National Taiwan Ocean University found that short-duration intense rainfall events have increased in recent years. They recommended lowering the threshold to 200 mm after analyzing regional rainfall and disaster patterns.

City officials said the new rule applies to both mountainous and flat areas in Keelung. The central government has accepted the proposal, and the revised system is expected to take effect in 2026, Yahoo News reported.