Kaohsiung MRT Responds to Rat Sighting at Zuoying Station with Immediate Sanitation and Enhanced Inspection

KAOHSIUNG, June 20 (CNA) — A video circulating on the social media platform Threads recently captured a rat scurrying along an escalator at the Kaohsiung MRT Zuoying Station. The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (KRTC) confirmed the location as the station’s concourse-level escalator leading to the ground-level exit near the High Speed Rail station. In response, the operator has conducted thorough cleaning, disinfection, and strengthened patrol efforts.

The KRTC stated that while the exact date of the footage could not be verified, station staff were dispatched immediately upon receiving the report. No traces of pests were found during the inspection. As a preventative measure, comprehensive sanitization has been completed, and patrols have been increased to prevent recurrences.

KRTC noted that while eating and drinking are prohibited within the MRT’s paid zones and trash cans are equipped with lids to minimize pest attraction, the affected area is located at a junction with external commercial spaces. Given the proximity to dining and rest areas with high pedestrian traffic, the source of the pest remains difficult to pinpoint, and the possibility of it originating from nearby public areas or commercial establishments cannot be ruled out.

Beyond internal efforts, the KRTC is notifying neighboring businesses to enhance their waste management and sanitation practices. The goal is to mitigate pest risks at the source through a collaborative approach to facility hygiene.