Alishan Highway blocked by landslides for second day; traffic resumes with rockfall warnings

The Alishan Highway in Taiwan experienced traffic disruptions for a second day due to landslides, exacerbated by continuous heavy rainfall saturating the soil.

On Tuesday, a section of the highway at kilometer marker 72.2 collapsed, blocking traffic in both directions. Just hours later, on Wednesday morning, another landslide occurred less than a kilometer away at marker 71.4, causing a renewed traffic halt. The collapses involved significant amounts of soil and large rocks falling onto the roadway.

The Alishan section office responded promptly, dispatching machinery to clear the debris. While the road was initially opened for single-lane, two-way traffic by mid-afternoon, full double-lane passage was restored by 3:30 PM. The damage to the road surface from the large rocks required repairs after their removal.

Authorities are warning travelers to remain vigilant for potential rockfalls and further collapses. The ongoing heavy rains in the mountainous region have created unstable conditions, and drivers are advised to check the latest road information before their journey.