The China Post
July 29, 2010
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Over 700 people were stranded on Wuling Farm in the central county of Taichung yesterday afternoon, after a bridge on a major mountain highway became seriously damaged as a result of torrential rains plaguing the mountainous areas, according to the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
Nine Koreans who had been trapped in a mountainous village in Alishan Township, in Chiayi County, by the heavy rains for two days were safely transported to the foot of the mountain via a zip line. (CNA)
DGH officials said that the Xianggu Bridge, part of a major mountainous highway in Hoping Township of Taichung County, had been seriously eroded by lingering downpours, stranding over 700 travelers and service staff in Wuling Farm, a famous mountainous scenic spot popular with local people.
To resolve this, engineers were stepping up their fixing operations, allowing small cars to pass at noon yesterday. In the afternoon, the highway was open again to big buses, the officials said.
There are still another 14 highways, mainly in southern Taiwan, that were damaged by the torrential rains. Among them is the sole highway leading to the popular tourist destination of Alishan in Chiayi County that was damaged by mudslides and falling rocks. more …
