Typhoon Mekkhala brought heavy rain to southern Taiwan, causing severe flooding and disrupting daily life for over 5 million people. Although the typhoon did not make a direct landfall in Taiwan, its outer bands brought torrential rains to parts of the island, particularly in Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung.
Flooding and Evacuations
The governments of Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung ordered offices and schools to close on Friday due to the heavy rainfall. Severe flooding in Tainan shut down a section of the main north-south railway line, while the high-speed rail line reported no problems. Authorities in Hualien county are evacuating nearly 200 residents from two townships downstream of a rapidly filling barrier lake in the mountains.
Rain is forecast to continue over Taiwan for at least the next week, although it is expected to gradually ease. The precipitation is not all bad news for Taiwan, which relies on the traditional summer and autumn typhoon season to fill up its reservoirs after dry winters.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
