Growing Damage as Intense Rain Hits Southern Taiwan
By Klein Wang/John Van Trieste
From rescue operations and washed out roads to a damaged historic monument, intense flooding is taking an increasing toll on Taiwan's south.
Floods Hit South Taiwan
More rain coming as roads wash out, rescue work continues
REPORTER:
An excavator stands amid the wind and rain in a rural corner of Kaohsiung trying to restore road access after days of intense flooding. It’s not about the road: people are trapped.
Huang Chao-tien (NEIGHBORHOOD CHIEF):
We’re trying to see if we can get it open
around 5:00 today.
Around 30 people from over 10 households live there.
REPORTER:
There are similar scenes across Taiwan’s south as the area is pounded by severe downpours. One Kaohsiung weather station recorded more than 900mm of rain. The damage continues to mount, including a massive hole that opened up in this Kaohsiung road overnight.
Chung Feng-mei (NEIGHBORHOOD CHIEF):
It was already flooded at midnight yesterday
and had started sinking.
Neighbors put down traffic cones
not thinking it was too serious.
But at 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning, it all caved in.
REPORTER:
An excavator sent to help fell in, and with damage to the roadbed so bad, a second piece of equipment sent to replace it almost got stuck, too.
REPORTER:
Throughout the south, local governments shuttered schools and businesses Monday—but medical staff and rescue workers have been busy. In Tainan, flooding around a hospital forced firefighters to evacuate 200 patients by rubber dinghy.
REPORTER:
The damage extends to some of Taiwan’s cultural heritage, too. Part of Tainan’s old city gate with 18th century roots has collapsed—even while the structure was under repair.
Yeh Tse-shan (TAINAN DEPUTY MAYOR):
Water must have soaked in
because of the long period of rain.
Our emergency response measure
is asking the builders to brace it
and prevent further collapse.
We are also discussing
whether to put in additional supports.
REPORTER:
And it could get worse for the south before it gets better: with the exception of a slight reprieve Wednesday, rain is in the forecast through the end of the week.
