Tainan: Schools and government offices in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Chiayi County, and parts of Pingtung County will be closed on Sunday due to heavy rainfall, local governments announced on Saturday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) predicts that Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Chiayi County could receive up to 340 mm of rainfall from Saturday evening through Sunday evening, driven by strong southwesterly winds. The nine affected townships in Pingtung – Chunri, Laiyi, Majia, Mudan, Sandimen, Shizi, Wutai, Taiwu, and Gaoshu – may experience up to 490 mm of rainfall during the same period.

Authorities have issued alerts for potential flooding, landslides, and transport disruptions, urging residents to stay vigilant and adhere to local safety instructions. On Saturday, 345 people were evacuated from Kaohsiung’s Baolai Hot Springs area due to the high landslide risk. Among them, 22 were accommodated in a local shelter, and 323 stayed with relatives.

In Tainan, Yongkang District reported the highest hourly rainfall of 103.5 mm on Saturday, with over one-third of the city’s 37 districts experiencing more than 40 mm of rainfall within an hour. Flooding resulted in the emergency closure of underpasses in central Tainan, while in Anding District, firefighters transported a dialysis patient to a hospital by boat.

As of 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, 35 roads and 26 bridges in Tainan were closed, and 13 temporary shelters had been opened to provide refuge for 57 evacuees. In Chiayi County, sections of provincial highways No. 3 and No. 18 were closed as a precaution.

The closures are expected to remain in effect until at least 8 a.m. Sunday, pending further updates on weather and road conditions, the local government stated.