TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Schools and offices in Kaohsiung’s Qishan and Meinong districts closed at noon Thursday, while all of Pingtung County followed suit at 2 p.m. due to torrential rain.
While Tropical Storm Mekkhala was moving north over the Pacific Ocean east of Taiwan, forecasters had predicted three days of rain for most of Taiwan beginning Thursday. The Central Weather Administration issued torrential or extremely torrential rain advisories for Pingtung and Kaohsiung from Thursday to early Friday morning.
Kaohsiung City said schools and offices in Qishan and Meinong should close from noon Thursday due to flooding in several locations and an increased risk of mudslides, per CNA.
Pingtung County issued school and office closures from 2 p.m., while advising residents to wait until flooding had subsided before heading home from work or school. Forecasters predicted 800 millimeters of rain over three days for Pingtung, CNA reported.
Chiayi County also canceled work and classes from 2 p.m. in the townships of Alishan, Meishan, Zhuqi, Fanlu, and Dapu.
The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration updates the nationwide list of school and office closures on its website.
