Heavy Rain Floods Areas Around Taiwan's Xiluo Market; Farmers Rush to Save Crops

Torrential rain overnight has led to significant flooding around Taiwan's Xiluo Fruit and Vegetable Market, a major distribution hub in Yunlin County. By Friday morning, large areas near the market, particularly a 500-meter stretch of Market North Road, were submerged under water reaching calf-deep.

The downpour, influenced by Typhoon Mikala moving north, an approaching cold front, and strengthening southwest winds, has turned parts of the area into waterways. Vehicles were seen navigating through the flooded streets. Local residents noted that the Market North Road area is a low-lying spot, and when drainage systems are overwhelmed, water from fields and ditches quickly floods the road. While minor flooding is not uncommon, residents described this as one of the most severe instances in recent memory.

Farmers in the vicinity are scrambling to salvage their crops. One vegetable farmer, surnamed Wu, began hiring workers at 5 a.m. to harvest Chinese cabbage, aiming to save whatever produce possible. Nearly a hectare of his farmland is already underwater, rendering some crops unrecoverable. The farmer expressed a desperate plea for the rain to stop, highlighting the arduous efforts involved.

The market's proximity to agricultural land means that such flooding directly impacts the livelihoods of many farmers. The urgency to harvest before further damage occurs underscores the vulnerability of the region's agricultural output to extreme weather events. The continuous downpour poses a significant threat to the current harvest and future planting seasons.

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Don't rain anymore.