Record typhoon rain in Taiwan

Record rainfall still caused widespread flooding across Southern Taiwan, forcing thousands of people from their homes and ravaging bridges, roads and buildings.

The worst reports of flooding in the wake of Typhoon Morakot came from the counties of Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung at the country’s southern tip.

Disaster relief center intimated total death reached three, with 19 people injured and 29 missing. A total of 6,301 people had been evacuated.

The levels of rainfall broke records, reaching between 2,500 and 2,900 millimeters for the past few days, levels higher than during flooding on August 7, 1959 which killed more than 600 people, mostly in the southwest.

The rainfall set one-day records Saturday, with one location, the Weiliao Mountain, recording 1,403 millimeter, the highest ever for Taiwan. Of the ten highest one-day rainfall amounts, nine were set on Saturday, the Central Weather Bureau said.

The main bridge giving access to Chihpen was closed off after cracks appeared, leaving 300 people isolated. The military said it would build a temporary bridge. The city’s main road also saw a stretch of 200 meters disappear.

A total of 14 people were reported missing after water swept away a Water Resources Agency dormitory housing 30 workers in the Kaohsiung County township of Taoyuan. Helicopters were mobilized to find the missing workers.

A portion of the Shuangyuan Bridge, an important link between Kaohsiung and Pingtung Counties, collapsed into the Gaoping River early Sunday. Two cars carrying three people were seen sliding into the river. The 2-kilometer-long bridge links Linyuan in Kaohsiung County with Hsinyuan in Pingtung County.

Visiting the scene, Transportation Minister Mao Chi-kuo said flood control work on the river bed would be needed before the bridge could be rebuilt.

In Shuili, Nantou County, five cars were reported to have been swept away by the water with at least four people missing.

Pingtung County reported the most widespread flooding. Four bridges in the region were damaged and 16 others closed off.

In the other heavily hit Pingtung County township of Chiatung, the situation was still critical. The evacuation of 7,000 residents began early Sunday.

The Central Weather Bureau warned that despite the typhoon moving away, torrential rain was still likely to continue and to move north, endangering areas in Central Taiwan from Taichung to Miaoli.

The aftermath of the typhoon also still caused havoc with traffic. Landslides and flooding left 91 roads across the country damaged or completely cut off, leaving hundreds of residents and travelers stranded.

High speed trains heading from Taipei to Kaohsiung unexpectedly went no further than Taichung, causing friction between passengers and staff. Other rail traffic between Changhua and Kaohsiung also cut until 6 p.m., reports said.

During a visit to Chiayi, President Ma Ying-jeouMa Ying-jeou ordered the establishment of a special disaster emergency response center for the South, while emphasizing the importance of food relief and prevention of further flooding. He ordered rubber dinghies transferred from Northern to Southern Taiwan. Ma earlier canceled a visit to Taitung after the local airport was closed.

Agricultural losses amounted to NT$1.14 billion by 9 a.m. Sunday, with levels of damage in Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Hualien Counties reaching disaster status, making those regions eligible for special relief subsidies and low-interest loans, the Council of Agriculture said. Banana growers were the worst hit, losing more than 2,000 hectares worth of crop, according to COA data.

Taipei County Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei lashed out at several local mayors Saturday for being away on overseas study trips.