Kaohsiung Suspends Work and Classes Amid Forecast of Extremely Heavy Rain; Department Stores, Cinemas Mostly Open

Kaohsiung suspended work and classes on August 24, 2026, as the city braced for potential torrential rainfall. The Central Weather Administration issued a severe weather warning, predicting localized torrential rain or extremely heavy downpours across the region.

However, in a sign of resilience or perhaps a routine adaptation to such weather, most major department stores and cinemas in Kaohsiung continued their operations. Major establishments like Hanshin Arena and Hanshin Department Store announced normal business hours, and ticket systems for cinemas such as Kaohsiung Far Eastern Theaters and Dream Mall Show Time indicated that movie screenings would proceed as scheduled.

The warning highlighted the influence of Tropical Depression No. 24 and strong southwesterly winds, contributing to the risk of intense, short-duration rainfall. Residents were urged to remain vigilant as the weather system moved through.