Typhoon Mekkhala's rains shut down southern Taiwan, cut rail line

Southern Taiwan experienced widespread disruption on Friday due to torrential rains brought by the outer bands of Typhoon Mekkhala. While the typhoon did not make a direct landfall on the island, its peripheral weather systems unleashed heavy downpours, particularly affecting the southern cities of Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung. Consequently, governments in these three regions, home to over five million residents, ordered the closure of offices and schools for the day.

The severe weather led to significant flooding in Tainan, which resulted in the disruption of a key section of the main north-south railway line. However, the separate high-speed rail service reported no issues and continued to operate normally. Authorities in Hualien County, located on Taiwan's east coast, are taking precautionary measures by evacuating nearly 200 residents from two townships. These areas are situated downstream of a barrier lake that is rapidly filling due to the heavy rainfall.

This evacuation is a response to the potential danger posed by barrier lakes, which can form when natural blockages create dams across rivers. Such formations can trap water, hindering natural drainage. Last year, a similar incident in a different part of Hualien saw 19 fatalities when a barrier lake breached its banks during Super Typhoon Ragasa, unleashing a destructive wall of water and mud. While no casualties have been reported from the current event, the memory of past disasters informs the authorities' actions.

Forecasters predict that rain will persist over Taiwan for at least another week, although the intensity is expected to gradually decrease. Despite the immediate challenges, Taiwan relies on the annual typhoon season during summer and autumn to replenish its reservoirs, which are crucial after typically dry winters. The precipitation, therefore, presents a dual nature, bringing both disruption and necessary water resources.