Kaohsiung: Local governments in central and southern Taiwan reported traffic disruptions in many areas on Sunday, noting that efforts are underway to repair damaged roads as heavy rains continue to batter the regions.

According to Focus Taiwan, parts of southern Taiwan have been inundated with approximately 2,000 millimeters of rainfall since July 28, as per Central Weather Administration (CWA) data valid as of 9 a.m. Sunday. In Kaohsiung, Deputy Mayor Charles Lin announced ongoing repairs for a collapsed section of Kaohsiung Highway No. 146, estimating a two-month timeline for completion.

The Kaohsiung Water Resources Bureau reported that torrential rain has caused the collapse of several roads in Tianliao District, with work on repairs delayed until weather conditions stabilize. Meanwhile, the Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters indicated that a section of the Si-ma-hsian forest trail in Miaoli County had also collapsed due to the incessant rain. The trail, currently closed to vehicles, is expected to be repaired by Monday.

In Taichung, the Civil Affairs Bureau revealed that 14 hiking trails in the Dakeng Scenic Area have remained closed since Thursday, impacted by collapsed sections and landslides from record-breaking rainfall. The city experienced its highest daily total rainfall in 13 years on Thursday. Numerous landslides and rockslides have also been reported in the mountainous regions of Beitun, Fengyuan, Wufeng, and Dongshi districts.

Elsewhere, train travel across Taiwan faced disruptions, with Taiwan Railway Corp. (TRC) stating that services between Yulin’s Douliu City and Changhua County’s Ershui Township were suspended due to flooding at Yulin County’s Linnei Station. Services resumed at 5 p.m. on Sunday. The persistent heavy rains have also left several rural communities isolated, prompting the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Department of Information Management to deploy drones for medicine delivery.

As the downpour continued, local governments in Nantou, Chiayi, and Pingtung counties, along with Tainan and Kaohsiung, announced the suspension of work and school in areas vulnerable to landslides or experiencing traffic disruptions.