HUALIEN (8/13/2025)– Persistent downpours brought by Typhoon Podul have triggered a rockfall along Taiwan’s Central Cross-Island Highway No. 8, blocking traffic near the west exit of the Jinheng Tunnel on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Highway Bureau’s East District Maintenance Engineering Branch, rain began falling steadily over the mountain sections early in the morning, intensifying to heavy showers by midday. At around 2:00 p.m., inspectors discovered that a torrent of rainwater, carrying rocks and debris, had poured onto the roadway at the 175.4-kilometer mark, making the route impassable. Hourly rainfall at the Tianxiang Management Station had reached 40 millimeters at the time.
Taroko Engineering Section Chief Zhang Peiyun reported that crews and heavy equipment were already stationed nearby and remain on standby. However, due to ongoing heavy rain and unstable slopes, repair work will only begin once water levels subside and conditions are deemed safe. The planned 3:00 p.m. reopening has been suspended, and the decision to resume traffic will depend on repair progress.
This stretch of the Central Cross-Island Highway, between Tianxiang and Taroko (km 167.7 to 184.5), is already subject to five daily opening periods due to post-earthquake restoration work: 7:00–8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00–1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 5:00–5:30 p.m.
Authorities aim to restore access before the final 5:00 p.m. opening, weather permitting. If that proves impossible, a new schedule will be announced. Officials urge motorists to avoid mountain travel during typhoons and prolonged rainfall, as landslides and falling rocks remain a serious hazard and road conditions can change rapidly.
