Heavy rain persists as Tropical Storm Wipha leaves Taiwan: CWA

Taipei, July 20 (CNA) Although Tropical Storm Wipha has moved away from Taiwan, its outer bands continue to bring heavy rainfall to the island's eastern and southern regions, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Sunday.

Hualien and Taitung counties in eastern Taiwan, as well as the Hengchun Peninsula and mountainous areas in the south, are experiencing intermittent heavy showers and thunderstorms, with risks of flash flooding and landslides, forecasters said.

As of 8 a.m., Wipha was located about 630 kilometers west of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, moving west at 23 kilometers per hour.

The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 108 kph, with gusts reaching 137 kph, and had a 150-kilometer radius of strong winds, according to CWA data.

As of Sunday morning, Beinan Township in Taitung had recorded 620 millimeters of rain since Thursday -- the highest total nationwide. Yuli and Fuli townships in Hualien also saw rainfall exceeding 520 millimeters, according to CWA data.

In Yuli, precautionary evacuations were carried out on Saturday night after a mudslide struck a village, local authorities said, adding that some residents were moved to shelters, while others temporarily stayed with relatives.

The prolonged rainfall also caused landslides along the South-Link and Southern Cross-Island highways, disrupting traffic. Train services near Luye Station in Taitung were briefly suspended due to flooding but have since resumed, transport officials said.

Several low-lying neighborhoods in Taitung City experienced flash flooding, while the Beinan and Taiping rivers swelled significantly, prompting flood alerts in Beinan Township.

The CWA also warned of strong winds and high waves of 2-3 meters along coastal and mountainous areas, including offshore islands.

Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said a new tropical system could form starting around Wednesday, and some forecast models suggest a 40 percent chance that it could affect northern Taiwan.

Regardless, rainy and unstable conditions are expected to persist through mid-week, and members of the public are advised to stay alert for weather updates as the new system develops, he said.