One person was dead and another was reported missing in Greater Tainan in flooding caused by torrential rain, the Tainan City Fire Bureau said yesterday.
The victim was identified as a 75-year-old woman surnamed Wang (王), whose body was found in Rende District (仁德) in the evening. The missing person was identified as a 48-year-old woman surnamed Hsieh (謝).
The floodwaters also forced the evacuation of about 24 elderly residents at the Wuja Education and Nursing Institute in Gueiren District (歸仁). Two industrial zones in the district were also severely damaged by the floods.
Flooding was also reported in Yongkang District (永康). Kun Shan University, which is in Yongkang, announced the cancellation of day classes today.
TV footage showed residents of the most-affected areas treading through knee-high floodwaters.
The Central Weather Bureau said the heavy rains began at 4am yesterday. Between 4am and 5am, the highest accumulation was reported in Yongkang, at 81.5mm.
Between 5am to 6am, as 61mm of rain fell over Yongkang, the hourly rate of rainfall in Sinshih District (新市) and Gueiren exceeded 77.5mm and 72mm respectively.
The top five areas of accumulated rainfall were all within Greater Tainan, with each having accumulated total rainfall exceeding 200mm.
By 7pm, the bureau’s observation station at the Matsu Temple in Gueiren had received 271.5mm, the highest in the country. This was followed by Ciding Borough (崎頂) in Longci District (龍崎), Shalun Borough (沙崙) in Gueiren, Yongkang Borough in Yongkang District and Hutoupi (虎頭埤) in Sinhua District (新化), with 252.5mm, 245.5mm, 228.5mm and 212mm respectively.
Heavy rainfall also caused damage in Greater Kaohsiung and forced the closure of Chongde Bridge in Tianliao District (田寮).
Access roads to four Aboriginal communities in the district were interrupted due to landslides and road damage on Highway 20.
The bureau said the rain was expected to ease by tomorrow, when a frontal system gradually moves south to the Bashi Channel. The chance of showers will remain high in eastern parts of the country after the frontal system’s departure. Cloudy to sunny weather is expected for the rest of the nation.
In related news, the Directorate-General of Highways said drivers should proceed with caution on the Suhua Highway, which was reopened to traffic yesterday.
The highway was closed due to damage caused by heavy rains on May 12.
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