The aftermath of Typhoon Haikui left Kaohsiung roads deep in water earlier this week, causing severe distress to residents and business owners alike. The drainage system seemed to be overwhelmed, and images captured by local residents showed water inundating the streets and surrounding homes and shops.
Residents expressed their frustration with the poor drainage planning by the Water Resources Bureau. They pointed out that a nearby hotel's construction had resulted in blocked drainage channels, exacerbating the problem.
But flooding and poor water drainage wasn't the only problem, residents also didn't have access to running water. Lin Yu-kai (林于凱), Kaohsiung City’s New Power Party Chairperson, said it was unacceptable that they didn't have access to tap water in an urban area and that the issue was linked to land-use problems during the pipeline connection process.
The bureau acknowledged the need for immediate action to address both public complaints and safety concerns and promised to take corrective measures.
In a separate incident, a section of road of more than two square meters sank abruptly in Renwu District on Wednesday evening, alarming residents and local authorities. Council members speculated that the issue was unrelated to the typhoon and likely resulted from water seepage due to sewage pipe connection work.
In response, engineers promptly inspected the collapse and confirmed that sewage pipe seepage was indeed the cause. Workers then excavated and filled the hole to stabilize the foundation.
To prevent further road collapses, the Water Resources Bureau has begun improvement work and is also inspecting the affected road for any nearby sewage pipelines and facilities that could contribute to further incidents of road surface collapse.