TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Torrential rain hit southern Taiwan on Saturday, causing flooding in low-lying areas of Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung and prompting authorities to step up flood-control measures.
Rain in Tainan continued almost nonstop from late Saturday through Sunday morning, with occasional heavy downpours causing flooding in several low-lying areas. The northbound entrance to the Rende Interchange on National Freeway 1 was temporarily closed after floodwaters accumulated, per CNA.
Water in the worst-hit locations rose above an adult’s knees. Some vehicles became stranded after entering flooded sections, while residents in affected areas prepared sandbags and monitored water levels.
Tainan authorities imposed traffic controls on several heavily flooded roads and operated pumping stations and mobile pumps to reduce the impact. The city government had also announced the suspension of work and classes on Sunday because of the forecast rainfall.
Kaohsiung also experienced torrential rain under the influence of strong southwest winds and a low-pressure system. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) inspected flood-control facilities in Renwu District and surveyed areas affected by slope erosion, urging officials to accelerate flood-control projects, per Newtalk.
Chen first visited the Bakong Bridge reconstruction project to review drainage in the surrounding area. The Water Resources Bureau said improvements to a nearby canal had increased its flood-discharge capacity. He later inspected ditch dredging on Bade North Road and surveyed slope erosion on Renyong Road.
Heavy rain also increased water pressure in a drainage culvert at a construction site on Niaosong Shennong Road, causing a manhole cover to rise above the road surface. The city immediately placed warning signs and dispatched personnel to direct traffic.
Some parts of Kaohsiung recorded hourly rainfall of 81 millimeters, while 24-hour rainfall exceeded 200 mm. City authorities said they would continue monitoring rainfall, water levels, and flood-control facilities as they urged motorists to drive carefully in wet conditions.
The Central Weather Administration said Taiwan would remain under the influence of a low-pressure belt and strong southwest winds Sunday, bringing abundant moisture to southern Taiwan. CWA forecaster Yeh Chih-chun (葉致均) said Taiwan was situated within a broad low-pressure belt containing several developing low-pressure systems, per CNA.
Rain was expected throughout the day in areas south of Chiayi, while northern Taiwan could see afternoon thunderstorms. Rainfall was expected to increase in mountainous areas of eastern Taiwan from Sunday night, with heavy or torrential rain possible. Yeh said rainfall over the previous 24 hours in southern Taiwan, particularly Kaohsiung and Pingtung, generally reached 250–300 mm.
Northern Taiwan also experienced localized heavy thunderstorms Saturday afternoon, with Fugui Cape in New Taipei City recording the day’s highest hourly rainfall at 101.5 mm. Meanwhile, Typhoon Saudel, the 18th typhoon of the year, was located over open waters east of Taiwan, according to the CWA.
The weather agency said the tropical depression previously located north of Taiwan had moved ashore in China’s Zhejiang province and weakened into a low-pressure system.
