TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Relentless torrential rains have battered central and southern Taiwan since Monday (July 28), triggering widespread flooding that has paralyzed communities across multiple counties. Residents in Chiayi and Tainan counties continue struggling with inundated streets, homes, and businesses as floodwaters persist. Taiwan's weather bureau, the Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署), issued warnings of continued high-risk rainfall through Aug. 1, driven by southwestern air currents and Typhoon Co-May (竹節草).
Devastating downpours submerged sections of Puzi City (朴子市) in Chiayi County on Monday (July 28), with floodwaters reaching knee-deep levels across residential neighborhoods. Over 400 millimeters of precipitation had accumulated by the afternoon, transforming hundreds of meters of roadways into treacherous waterlogged expanses. The flooding reached nearly tire-high on vehicles, creating dramatic waves as cars attempted to navigate the inundated streets.
Local authorities mobilized military assistance during evening hours to deliver critical supplies to stranded residents, including 3,000 rice dumplings and 350 prepared lunch boxes. Emergency conditions worsened in a nearby village where floodwaters surged to single-story building heights, prompting fire department crews to deploy rescue boats for trapped civilians. The coordinated relief effort highlighted the severity of flooding that left entire communities isolated and dependent on emergency services.
Taibao City (太保市), also in Chiayi County, experienced catastrophic rainfall exceeding 300 millimeters within just seven hours, forcing county officials to suspend work and classes on Monday (July 28) morning. The flooding severely impacted Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC, 台積電) construction site, with water levels rising to calf height inside the complex. Workers adapted by rolling up their pants and elevating plastic chairs onto tables to protect equipment from the rising waters.