🚨 Hualien Landslides Paralyze Key Transport Routes: Torrential Rain Forces Road and Rail Closures

A severe weather event triggered by heavy convection rainfall caused major landslides in Hualien County, Taiwan, on Tuesday, leading to the temporary closure of a key section of Provincial Highway No. 9 and Taiwan Railways. Tourists and commuters are scrambling for alternative routes as authorities race to restore transportation access.

🌧️ What Happened in Hualien?

On Tuesday, May 20, a sudden burst of rainfall — over 52.5mm within an hour — battered the Qingshui Cliffs area in Taroko National Park, one of Taiwan’s most scenic but geologically unstable regions. This intense precipitation, caused by thermal convection in the afternoon, triggered landslides at the 164.5 km and 162.9 km marks of Provincial Highway No. 9.

These landslides led the Highway Bureau to close two-way traffic between Heren and Chongde starting at 4:30 p.m., effectively cutting off a major travel artery between northern and eastern Taiwan.

🚧 Road and Railway Shutdowns: A Double Hit

This wasn’t the first incident in the area this week. On Sunday, May 18, heavy rains and floods had already affected Taiwan Railway’s Heren-Chongde section, halting both northbound and southbound train services.

As of Tuesday:

• Trains from Taipei to Su’ao and Taitung to Hualien remain operational.
• The critical Heren-Chongde stretch remains non-operational until further repair.
• Tourists are rerouting via the South Link Line to Kaohsiung, then north to Taipei by train or road.
• Flight and ship services are being increased by the Ministry of Transportation to support passenger overflow.

🛠️ Restoration Timeline & Government Response

According to the Highway Bureau, large-scale clearing efforts began Tuesday afternoon, with hopes to restore two-way road traffic by 9:00 p.m. the same day.

Meanwhile, Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) has pledged to:

• Restore one-way rail service by Wednesday (May 21).
• Fully resume two-way train operations by Saturday (May 24).

Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) announced:

• More flights between Hualien and Taipei.
• Additional ships will be available starting Wednesday to provide marine transport alternatives.

⚠️ Weather Warnings and Climate Impact

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued:

• Extremely Heavy Rain Alerts for Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung.
• This level indicates over 200 mm in 24 hours, or 100 mm in 3 hours.
• Also, a Heavy Rain Alert: over 80 mm in 24 hours or 40 mm in an hour.

These patterns reflect increasing weather volatility in Taiwan due to climate change, which has heightened the frequency of landslides, especially along steep terrain such as the Qingshui Cliffs.

🧭 Why This Matters

Hualien’s geographic vulnerability, situated between mountains and coastlines, makes it susceptible to earthquakes, typhoons, and landslides. Tuesday’s incident highlights:

1. Taiwan’s fragile infrastructure in remote but vital transport corridors.
2. The need for resilient engineering solutions to withstand rapid-onset natural disasters.
3. The importance of disaster preparedness and real-time communication systems for tourists and residents.

With summer typhoon season approaching, further disruptions are possible unless long-term planning mitigates recurring threats to eastern Taiwan’s connectivity.

🧳 What Travelers Should Know

If you’re planning to visit or leave Hualien or eastern Taiwan:

• Check TRA and Highway Bureau websites for real-time updates.
• Book alternative train routes via the South Link Line early.
• Consider flying between Hualien and Taipei during peak congestion.
• Be aware of heavy rainfall warnings and follow local emergency advisories.

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