CHIAYI (TVBS News) — Torrential rains forced Chiayi County government officials to suspend work and classes Wednesday (July 30) across five mountain townships: Alishan (阿里山鄉), Fanlu (番路鄉), Dapu (大埔鄉), Zhuqi (竹崎鄉), and Meishan (梅山鄉). Continuous downpours triggered dangerous mudflows and widespread flooding throughout the region's mountainous road network. The emergency closures affected thousands of residents and highlighted the severe weather conditions battering Taiwan's central mountain areas.
Chiayi County Fire Department emergency responders reported that massive landslides completely severed road access from Meishan (梅山) to Taiping 36 Corners (太平36彎) and Zhenan Village (圳南村) along Route 152. Landslides simultaneously blocked Route 162A connecting Meishan to Taiping, stranding motorists and isolating communities. County Route 169 presented treacherous driving conditions as vehicles navigated beneath cascading waterfalls created by the relentless rainfall, forcing authorities to consider additional road closures.
Photographer Chuang Hsin-jan (莊信然) documented a striking scene along the Shanmei section of the Zengwun River (曾文溪) in Alishan Township, where a solitary excavator stood defiantly against rushing mudflows. Chuang shared these compelling images on Facebook, explaining that construction crews had wisely evacuated before the torrential rains began, relocating most machinery to safer, elevated terrain. The photographer expressed bewilderment about why this particular excavator remained abandoned in the dangerous riverbed during the flooding emergency.
Local authorities continued urging residents to exercise extreme caution and maintain vigilance while monitoring official weather alerts as the dangerous situation evolved throughout the region. The ongoing torrential rains and their devastating impact on transportation infrastructure starkly demonstrated the mountain region's acute vulnerability to Taiwan's increasingly severe weather events. Emergency officials emphasized the critical importance of public safety during this unprecedented meteorological crisis. ◼