Taiwan issues rain alerts, suspends some ferry services

Taipei, Aug. 5 (CNA) Heavy rainfall continued to affect Taiwan on Tuesday, prompting weather warnings across seven cities and counties and the cancellation of several ferry journeys, according to local authorities.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said heavy rain -- defined as at least 80 millimeters in 24 hours or 40 millimeters in one hour -- was forecast on Tuesday in areas south of Yunlin County and in the outlying Penghu County due to moisture carried by ongoing southwesterly winds.

In the afternoon, localized heavy rain may also fall across northern Taiwan, the CWA said.

The agency issued heavy rain advisories for Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung County and Penghu County.

It warned residents in low-lying areas to watch out for flooding and advised those in mountainous regions to be alert for landslides, falling rocks and mudslides.

Most other regions can expect mostly cloudy conditions, while mountainous areas in Taiwan's north, east and southeast may experience isolated afternoon thunderstorms, the weather agency said.

High temperatures are forecast to reach 30 to 31 degrees Celsius in central and southern areas and in Taitung County, and 32 to 35 degrees elsewhere, according to the CWA.

The agency also said temperatures in Greater Taipei could exceed 36 degrees for several consecutive days.

Despite some improvements in weather conditions, maritime transport remains disrupted, Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau said.

All ferry trips between Keelung and Lienchiang County (the Matsu Islands) were suspended on Tuesday due to heavy rain, according to the bureau.

Two of the four scheduled ferry journeys between Fuao Village in Lienchiang County's Nangang Township and Langqi, a town in China's Fujian Province, were also canceled.