TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said Tuesday the city based its decision to keep most areas open during heavy rain on weather forecasts and other information.
Normal work and classes resumed across most of Kaohsiung on Tuesday despite continued heavy rain, CNA reported. Only the mountain districts of Namasia, Taoyuan, Maolin, Jiasian, and Liouguei suspended work and classes.
Chen said the city based its decision on forecasts from the Central Weather Administration and other relevant information. He said actual rainfall can differ from forecasts during severe storms.
Chen urged residents to take extra care when traveling in heavy rain and when staying in low-lying areas. He said the city would continue monitoring conditions as periods of heavy rain alternated with breaks.
The city was also closely monitoring pumps, floodgates, and detention ponds, Chen said. He urged residents to follow weather updates and cooperate if authorities issued evacuation orders, per UDN.
The Central Weather Administration maintained heavy rain alerts for Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung as a low-pressure system brought large amounts of moisture to southern Taiwan. Several Kaohsiung districts recorded more than 200 millimeters of rain in 24 hours, with Maolin recording the highest total at 280 millimeters.
Kaohsiung’s Water Resources Bureau said the city had experienced heavy to extremely heavy rain for three straight days. Its 26 detention ponds stored and released about 10 million tonnes of floodwater during that period.
