Drought-parched southern Taiwan prepares for possible flooding as rain front approaches

Municipal leaders in southern cities and counties inspected drainage channels and flood mitigation facilities today, as Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau warned of heavy rain expected to be generated by a front which will pass over the island from Wednesday (April 19) to Friday (April 21). It is hoped that the rain will help alleviate water shortages caused by the worst drought in a century.

The CWB said that rain will start to affect the northwest Wednesday afternoon, while increasing and becoming more widespread on Thursday, with the possibility of heavy downpours, brief torrential rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds.

The affect of the front will wane on Friday, with brief showers or thunderstorms expected in central, southern, and eastern areas.

In Tainan City, Mayor Huang Wei-cher inspected the recently completed Guiren South 10 flood diversion system this morning, saying that after severe drought, there may be severe floods. Rainfall estimates for tomorrow have been revised to over 300 millimeters. “The left hand fights against drought, and the other hand must prevent floods,” the mayor said.

The Yunlin County Government said that it had ordered inspections of drainage channels and sewer systems to check for and remove any obstructions. Two hundred large, medium and small mobile pumps are being pre-installed in flood-prone areas.

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