TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Torrential rains have pummeled southern Taiwan since July 28, triggering widespread devastation and major disruptions across the region. The relentless southwest monsoon delivered 2,755.5 millimeters of rainfall to Maolin District (茂林區) in Kaohsiung City (高雄市), approaching records established by Typhoon Morakot. Taiwan's disaster response center, the Central Emergency Operations Center (中央災害應變中心), confirmed four fatalities as of Sunday (Aug. 3), with three people still missing, 74 injured, and 5,859 residents evacuated from affected areas.
Taiwan's weather bureau, the Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署), has issued warnings for continued heavy precipitation from Miaoli County southward and across Penghu County. Officials strongly urged residents to stay away from mountainous terrain and riverbank areas during this dangerous period. The administration observed weakening southwest monsoon patterns this morning, though localized heavy rainfall continues threatening communities. Kinmen County faces escalating precipitation levels, while Greater Taipei and northern Yilan County anticipate afternoon thunderstorms continuing through Tuesday (Aug. 5).
Taiwan's fire department, the National Fire Agency (消防署), confirmed four fatalities, three missing persons, and 74 injuries by the evening of Aug. 3. A vehicle plunged into a ravine on July 30 in Kaohsiung's Taoyuan District (桃源區), resulting in two deaths and three missing individuals. Search teams discovered a missing motorcyclist's body in Qishan District (旗山區) yesterday. Electrical outages impacted 49,935 households across affected regions, with 303 properties still awaiting power restoration by Tuesday (Aug. 5).
Flooding incidents reached 671 cases across Taiwan, with Changhua County and Yunlin County bearing the brunt of severe inundation damage from the prolonged rainfall. Local government authorities continue working around the clock to restore normal operations and essential services throughout the storm-battered communities. Emergency response teams remain strategically deployed across multiple counties to address persistent infrastructure challenges, clear debris from roadways, and provide comprehensive support for displaced residents gradually returning to their flood-damaged homes and businesses. ◼