Southern Taiwan Shuts Offices, Schools as Heavy Rains Lash Region
Heavy rains force closures across southern Taiwan, disrupting rail services, while TSMC confirms normal operations and a typhoon approaches for later in the week.
Torrential rain across southern Taiwan prompted authorities to shut offices and schools on Monday, as a lingering low-pressure system caused flooding and disrupted rail travel. The closures affected the major cities of Kaohsiung and Tainan, home to over four million people, along with the counties of Pingtung, Chiayi, and the eastern mountainous regions of Taitung and Hualien.
The Kaohsiung city government indicated that cumulative rainfall from the five-day weather system could exceed 1.3 metres, a figure approaching half of the city's typical annual precipitation. The downpour has been attributed to a low-pressure area that has remained stationary over the region for several days.
Despite the severe weather, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, reported that its factories in Taiwan are operating normally. The company stated that it had activated its standard heavy-rain preparedness protocols across all its facilities, which include plants in Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as new construction sites in Chiayi county.
Taiwan Railway announced disruptions on the main eastern coastline route and on services connecting Kaohsiung and Taitung. Express trains were cancelled, while local services were subject to weather conditions.
Local officials urged residents to stay indoors. Taitung County Chief April Yao advised the public to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, the Central Weather Administration is tracking Typhoon Saudel, currently near Japan's Okinawa region. The storm is projected to pass close to northern Taiwan early on Friday before moving towards the eastern coast of China.