The Central Cross-island Highway was temporarily closed on Wednesday afternoon as Typhoon Gaemi made its approach.
Gaemi’s arrival in central Taiwan has brought not only strong winds but heavy rains. A veritable waterfall can be seen pouring from the mountainsides near the entrance to the tunnels of the Central Cross-island Highway that connect to Taichung, while mud streams through the ditches.
Although the highway was closed before any traffic incidents could occur, nearby areas have been heavily impacted by landslides. Excavators were dispatched to help clear the area, but between the landslides and the highway closure, the Lishan Scenic Area has become inaccessible.
Rainwater has caused the Dajia River to surge. Trees threaten to wash away, and stray leaves and a few unfortunate fish litter the surface of the Guguan Suspension Bridge.
The conditions brought about by Typhoon Gaemi will no doubt continue to flood this area with problems for the foreseeable future.
Hanna Bilinski for RTI News