South, central Taiwan deluged

By Rich Chang
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Jun 17, 2005, Page 2

Chen Cheng-hsiung, rear right, walks with his wife and neighbor through the flooded streets to their home in Tungshih township, Chiayi yesterday. They were eventually helped home by the fire brigade. PHOTO: TING WEI-CHIEH, TAIPEI TIMES

Heavy rain and floods yesterday continued to damage southern and central Taiwan. Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City and Tainan County were the most seriously affected by the floods, according to local government officials.

Heavy rains continued throughout central Taiwan beginning from yesterday morning, according to the Central Weather Bureau. Local newspapers reported that ten townships or villages in Yunlin County were flooded to an average depth of 150cm.

Some Yunlin County townships and villages along the coast have been flooded to the level of the second floor. The local government yesterday continued to provide food and water for flood victims, and some residents have been provided with shelter on higher ground.

Local newspapers said that the local governments were concerned that the consistently heavy rains may expand the size of the afflicted area and cause more damage, and possibly contribute to the spread of disease.

Coastal townships and villages in Chiayi County suffered most seriously from the floods, a local newspaper said.

Children in Yunlin County brave the flood to return home with provisions after the locality has been submerged for the last two days. PHOTO: LIN KUO-HSIEN, TAIPEI TIMES

A number of villages along the coast have been evacuated. Schools in flooded townships and villages in Chiayi County were closed yesterday. One elementary schoolboy was drowned, and a woman died at a flooded home from an electric shock.

Local papers reported that it began raining heavily in Tainan City and Tainan County yesterday morning, and the lower areas of the city began to flood. Several villages in Tainan County have been struck as well. The situation was worsening as the rain persisted.

Land subsidence causes damage to a house in Tungan village, Kaohsiung County. PHOTO: HSU PAI-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

According to traffic police, the heavy rain and floods yesterday caused the closure of Sun Yat-sen Freeway in Tainan County. Yesterday morning, the freeway from Yunlin County to Kaohsiung County had all but one lane closed, out of a concern for public safety. There was a traffic jam yesterday morning on the freeway due to the closure of the traffic lanes, papers said.

Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City and Tainan County have the most fish and chicken farms in Taiwan. The floods have caused a huge number of chicken deaths, local newspapers said. Also, many fish escaped from the farms. Papers said that despite the flooding, many residents were able to "catch and eat the free fish" swimming through the streets.

Two residents of Matou in Tainan county making their way around the flooded area yesterday on a raft built from oil drums. PHOTO: LIU WAN-CHUN, TAIPEI TIMES

Miaoli County and Changhua County have also suffered serious setbacks from the floods. Papers said that while the downpour briefly subsided yesterday, residents in flooded areas took advantage of the opportunity to salvage their property and possessions.

The traffic of a village in a mountainous area in Pingtung County was disrupted yesterday due to mudslides. Over 200 soldiers were able to successfully re-open the road to traffic yesterday. The residents cheered the soldiers on to thank them for their assistance.