Tropical Storm Brings Flooding to Taiwan
Tropical Storm Mekkhala is far from Taiwan, but its outer edges have brought intense rain, flooding and property damage around the entire country, especially in the south. With more rain predicted until at least June 29th, it may be a while before floodwaters recede.
Severe Tropical Storm Mekkhala Brings Flooding to Southern Taiwan
REPORTER:
In the southern city of Tainan, streets turned into rivers. Severe Tropical Storm Mekkhala is far from Taiwan, but its outer edges have brought torrential rain across the country. And the south has been the hardest hit.
REPORTER:
In an apartment block basement, scooters soak in the floodwaters. The surge came hard and fast. People living here had no time to react.
Resident:
There was a big release of water and the road flooded.
And the water kept flowing in.
It got completely flooded.
REPORTER:
In Pingtung County on Taiwan’s southern tip, some places have received as much as 500 millimeters of rain. People here face a big cleanup.
REPORTER:
At a local hospital, a lucky break. The basement flooded, but they were able to rescue equipment worth over $3 million US dollars. But there’s still damage.
Wang Sen-jen (DIRECTOR, PINGTUNG HOSPITAL):
There’ve been disruptions
with some of our electrical and mechanical equipment
including elevators.
We’ve taken emergency measures.
REPORTER:
Across much of the south, work and school are canceled on Friday. Flooded railroad tracks have disrupted train service, too. But the bad weather’s still not over.
Lai Hsin-kuo (METEOROLOGIST):
Through this morning, some parts of the south
could see heavy rain or torrential downpours.
In the afternoon, rain in the south will ease slightly.
But the south is also under the influence of a front
and should watch out for localized heavy rain.
REPORTER:
Almost the whole country is under some kind of rain advisory. And the rain may not ease off until Monday the 29th—meaning it could take a while for the floodwaters to recede.
