Taiwan Braces for Powerful Typhoon After Days of Torrential Rain

Taiwan (GNP): Torrential rain across southern Taiwan forced the closure of schools and offices on Monday and disrupted rail services, as authorities on the island braced for Typhoon Saudel to approach later in the week. A low-pressure system has lingered over southern Taiwan for several days, producing intense rainfall and widespread flooding across multiple regions.

As the rain continued, local governments in the major southern cities of Kaohsiung and Tainan ordered schools and offices to shut, a decision mirrored by authorities in Pingtung and Chiayi counties. The eastern counties of Taitung and Hualien also announced closures as the heavy rainfall persisted, extending the disruption across a wide stretch of the island.

The scale of the rainfall underscores the severity of the weather system now affecting Taiwan. Kaohsiung authorities said cumulative rainfall over the five-day period was expected to exceed 1.3 metres, an amount equal to nearly half the city’s typical annual rainfall accumulating in less than a week. The affected areas are home to millions of people and include some of Taiwan’s most significant industrial, agricultural and transport centres, magnifying the potential impact of the flooding.

Reflecting this disruption, Taiwan Railway confirmed that services on the main east coast route would be affected, with express trains cancelled and local services running subject to weather conditions. Routes to and from Kaohsiung and Taitung were also disrupted. Taitung County Chief April Yao urged residents to stay indoors unless travel was essential. Says April Yao, “Residents should avoid unnecessary travel given the risks posed by the severe weather.”

Compounding the situation, Taiwan is now also preparing for a separate weather threat. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, Typhoon Saudel is currently moving towards Japan’s southern Okinawa region and is expected to pass northern Taiwan early on Friday before continuing towards the eastern coast of China.

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Authorities are closely monitoring the typhoon’s projected path, warning that already saturated ground and swollen rivers could raise the risk of further flooding and landslides if additional heavy rain reaches the island.

This heightened risk reflects a broader seasonal pattern. Taiwan regularly experiences typhoons and extreme rainfall during the summer months, with its mountainous terrain leaving parts of the island particularly vulnerable to flash floods and landslides. Its location in the western Pacific also places it directly along the path of storms moving towards East and Southeast Asia, making it a recurring point of exposure during the region’s storm season.

The latest disruption follows a series of severe storms across East Asia this summer, highlighting the continuing risks posed by intense rainfall and tropical cyclones in the region. Taiwanese authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to monitor official weather warnings and avoid unnecessary travel as the low-pressure system continues to affect the island and Typhoon Saudel approaches.