Kaohsiung Mountain Areas Suspend Work and Classes; Mayor Chen Chi-mai: 1,904 People Evacuated

(CNA reporter Tsai Meng-yu, Kaohsiung, 9th) Kaohsiung City's Taoyuan, Liugui, Namaxia, Maolin, and Jiaxian districts suspended work and classes today. Mayor Chen Chi-mai stated that with 68 yellow alerts for debris flows in Kaohsiung City, the city government, erring on the side of caution, had already completed evacuations last night, evacuating a total of 1,904 people.

Before a municipal meeting today, Chen Chi-mai told the media that the current average rainfall on the plains is 20 to 30 millimeters, but the main concern is in the mountainous areas. According to the Central Weather Administration's estimates, rainfall in the mountains could reach 350 to 400 millimeters, which meets the criteria for suspending work and school.

Chen Chi-mai stated that Taoyuan, Liugui, Namaxia, Maolin, and Jiaxian districts suspended work and classes today. According to the alert forecast issued by the Ministry of Agriculture's Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation Agency, there are a total of 68 yellow alerts for debris flows and 2 yellow alerts for large-scale collapses in Kaohsiung City, leading to the evacuation of 1,904 people.

Chen Chi-mai said that Kaohsiung City adopts a stricter standard; once a yellow alert for debris flow is issued, evacuation measures are taken. "We err on the side of caution and had already completed all evacuations last night."

He also mentioned that he has instructed the city's Water Resources Bureau, Public Works Bureau, Environmental Protection Bureau, and other relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation of intense, short-duration rainfall in Kaohsiung. This includes the status of sluice gates, water pumps, detention ponds, and strengthening the clearing of drainage ditches in flood-prone areas, as well as paying attention to road conditions and potential road flooding.

Chen Chi-mai also reminded the public in mountainous or low-lying areas to be highly alert and urged people to avoid visiting beaches or playing in streams. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150609