Taiwan's Changhua County Hit by Severe Thunderstorms, Causing Flooding and Power Outages

Heavy rains and lightning disrupt daily life in central Taiwan, impacting homes and historic sites.

Central Taiwan's Changhua County experienced significant disruptions on Tuesday morning due to severe thunderstorms, which brought heavy rainfall, widespread flooding, and power outages to several areas, including the townships of Lukang and Huatan.

Reports indicated flooding on numerous roads in Lukang. In Huatan, on Zhangyuan Road, floodwaters rose to a considerable level, reaching nearly half the height of a car tire. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) had issued a real-time thunderstorm alert for Changhua during the morning hours.

The severe weather also led to extensive power outages in the county's coastal regions. Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) worked to mitigate the impact by rerouting power through interconnected feeder lines. Despite these efforts, 4,478 households remained without electricity, according to Taipower's Changhua branch.

Lai Qing-mei (賴清美), a Changhua County Councilor for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), observed the situation in coastal areas early in the morning. She noted that two villages in Shengang Township lost power, and traffic lights were non-operational. Additionally, parts of Hemei Township experienced flooding.

The thunderstorms also affected a significant cultural landmark. The forecourt of the Lukang Tianhou Temple, a nationally designated historic site, was flooded up to knee height. The temple's main incense burner and offering tables were submerged by the rising waters.

Later in the day, at 11:55 a.m., the CWA issued a torrential rain warning for Changhua. This warning signifies accumulated rainfall exceeding 350 millimeters within a 24-hour period, or more than 200 millimeters within a 3-hour period.