CHANGHUA (TVBS News) — Thick fog and air pollution shrouded Changhua City on Thursday (Feb. 27), obscuring the iconic Mt.Bagua Great Buddha (八卦山大佛). The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 氣象署) did not include Changhua County (彰化縣) in its fog advisory, but visibility decreased significantly in the morning, with residents capturing images of the Buddha barely visible through the haze.
The Environmental Protection Administration's (空氣品質監測網) air quality monitoring network reported that Erlin (二林) in Changhua County reached an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 161 by 1 p.m., classified as a "red alert." Xianxi (線西) also recorded a "red alert" at 152. Changhua City and Dacheng (大城) registered "orange alerts," with AQI levels between 142 and 145.
The administration advised residents to wear masks outdoors to reduce the risk of inhaling pollutants, particularly urging sensitive groups to limit outdoor activities.
Meanwhile, Taichung residents faced dense fog during their morning commute, enveloping the city's skyscrapers. The poor visibility along the mountain and coastal lines disrupted operations at Taichung's Ching Chuan Kang Airport (台中清泉崗機場), leading to domestic and international flight cancellations and delays. The fog also slowed traffic on National Highways 1 and 3.
