Schools and public offices shut in southern Taiwan as heavy rain hits

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — Schools and public offices in Kaohsiung and Tainan were closed on Wednesday after heavy rainfall battered southern Taiwan, according to Reuters. The closures also extended to Pingtung and Chiayi counties and the mountainous eastern counties of Taitung and Hualien, affecting more than four million residents across the two cities. Taiwan Railways Administration warned of possible disruptions on the eastern coastal main line and between Kaohsiung and Taitung, and announced the suspension of high-speed rail services. Kaohsiung authorities said rainfall could exceed 1.3 meters over the next five days. The Central Weather Administration said Typhoon Sudel, currently moving toward Japan's southern Okinawa region, is expected to pass north of Taiwan on Friday before heading toward China's eastern coast. TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said all of its factories in Taiwan were operating normally after completing typhoon preparation protocols.