Heavy rain disrupts traffic, suspends schools in Taiwan

TAIPEI -- Torrential rain hit large parts of Taiwan with the arrival of a strong southwesterly airstream Friday morning.

The heavy rain caused widespread disruption on the island, trapping people in mountainous regions, and causing the cancellation of flights and buses, as well as the closure of schools in the worst-hit area.

As of 10 am, precipitation in some areas of New Taipei City had reached 600 mm, data from the local meteorological station showed.

Dozens of flights were canceled, delayed, or diverted at two airports in Taipei.

A total of 12 districts in the New Taipei City and Keelung City are on flood alerts and several schools in the New Taipei City have suspended classes.

Over 380 residents in a village in the Alishan township, southwest Taiwan's Chiayi county, were trapped due to traffic problems caused by sudden surges of water levels in rivers.

Cities in southern Taiwan have activated an emergency response system as the rain is expected to move southward.

The southwesterly airstream is expected to leave Sunday, but rainy weather is likely to continue until Monday, according to the island's weather bureau.

The bureau Thursday issued a heavy rain warning for eight cities and counties in central and southern Taiwan, saying the public should watch out for sudden downpours, thunder, strong winds and landslides.