TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A substantial landslide brought traffic to a standstill in Haiduan Township (海端鄉), a remote mountainous district in eastern Taiwan's Taitung County, early Monday (July 21) morning. The incident completely blocked both lanes along the Shimama (下馬) Road section of Provincial Highway 20 (台20線), a critical east-west route connecting isolated communities. Local authorities anticipate reopening the vital transportation artery by noon as emergency crews work diligently to remove fallen rocks and soil.
Intense precipitation generated by a typhoon's peripheral cloud bands combined with a regional low-pressure system has drenched the entire island, with Taitung County bearing the brunt of particularly severe downpours. Law enforcement officials swiftly mobilized after receiving reports of the landslide, sending officers to secure the area and redirect traffic. They simultaneously alerted the Guanshan Construction Section (關山工務段), the regional highway maintenance authority, to commence debris removal operations and implement comprehensive traffic management measures.
The Taiwan Railway Corporation, Ltd. (台鐵公司), the island's primary rail operator, has encountered significant operational disruptions amid the deteriorating weather conditions. Torrential rainfall forced the suspension of service along portions of the South-Link Line (南迴線), a crucial coastal railway connection, beginning at 6:11 a.m. Monday. The Taitung Construction Section (台東工務段) has deployed maintenance crews for emergency repairs to resume train operations. Meanwhile, the Taitung County government has declared the suspension of work and classes in four coastal townships — Dawu (大武), Taimali (太麻里), Jinfeng (金峰), and Daren (達仁) — as the deluge continues. ◼
