Torrential rain, flooding close offices, schools in Taiwan

Torrential rain and flooding from a persistent low-pressure system forced the closure of offices and schools across southern and eastern Taiwan on Monday, August 24, 2026, with four people reported missing and authorities preparing for a typhoon expected to impact the island later in the week. The severe weather has affected major population centers, including the cities of Kaohsiung and Tainan, which are home to more than four million people.

The low-pressure system has hovered over southern Taiwan for several days, bringing heavy rainfall and causing significant flooding. Local governments in Kaohsiung and Tainan, along with the counties of Pingtung, Chiayi, Taitung, and Hualien, ordered offices and schools closed. The Kaohsiung government projected that cumulative rainfall over the five-day period of the system would exceed 1.3 meters, or 4.3 feet, which is nearly half of the city's typical annual rainfall.

Taiwan's fire department reported that four people were missing in the floodwaters: three in Hualien and one in Tainan. The severe weather has also disrupted transportation. Taiwan Railway announced disruptions on the main east coast line and on services to and from...