Taiwan City Submerged by Torrential Rains; Residents Warned to Stay Away

Yuanlin City in Changhua County, Taiwan, experienced severe flooding after heavy rains lashed the area starting early Monday morning. The downpour, fueled by the outer bands of a typhoon and strong southwest winds, led to significant inundation, particularly in the Jingxiu Road area near Yuanlin High School.

One concerned resident posted on social media, urging drivers to avoid the flooded streets. "Yuanlin High School's Jingxiu Road is already flooded. Please be careful, do not drive in," the post warned, noting that the rain remained intense. The Central Weather Administration reported cumulative rainfall of 218 millimeters in Changhua County by Monday morning, with some areas issuing "purple alerts" indicating extreme rainfall.

Several townships, including Yuanlin, Tianwei, and Xizhu, were placed under flood warnings due to the critical situation. The heavy rainfall transformed streets into rivers, prompting emergency responses. Reports indicated that rescue teams used inflatable rafts to evacuate nine people from the affected areas, highlighting the severity of the flooding.