Hsinchu Suspends Work and School Amid Heavy Rain and Flooding

Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County suspended all work and classes starting at 12:00 PM on June 26, 2026, after heavy rainfall exceeding 50mm per hour triggered more than 130 disaster reports. According to local news reports, the emergency measures followed widespread flooding in Zhubei and Hsinchu City, which left vehicles trapped and prompted a surge of public criticism toward local officials on social media.

The decision to halt operations came as hourly precipitation levels broke records, according to the Liberty Times. The sudden shift in policy, described by Yahoo News as a “major turn,” occurred as water surged into residential homes and turned several urban roads into rivers.

In Zhubei, the situation was particularly severe. Yahoo News reported that Lianhua Lane became effectively submerged, creating a “sea” of water that trapped multiple vehicles. The flooding coincided with the influence of Typhoon Micra, which brought the intense rainbands to the region.

Why did the Taiyuan Road underpass flood?

A significant point of contention emerged regarding the failure of drainage systems at the Taiyuan Road underpass in Hsinchu City. According to reports from UDN, the underpass’s pumping motors failed to activate during the peak of the storm.

Hsinchu City Mayor Kao Hung-an attributed the failure to the Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), claiming that the utility provider had failed to supply electricity to the pumps. However, UDN reported that this claim was quickly contradicted by available evidence, suggesting that the power supply was not the primary cause of the pump failure.

This discrepancy between the Mayor’s statement and the technical reality led to immediate criticism from residents and local observers, who questioned the city’s disaster preparedness and the accuracy of the administration’s public statements.

How did the public respond to the government’s decision?

The delay in announcing the work and class suspensions, combined with the visible flooding, sparked a backlash on social media. Yahoo News reported that a group of critics, referred to as the “Gulu Army,” flooded the official Facebook pages of Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke and Mayor Kao Hung-an.

Users expressed frustration over the timing of the 12:00 PM announcement, arguing that the decision came too late for many commuters who were already caught in the flooding. The social media activity reflected a broader dissatisfaction with the speed of the local governments’ response to the rainfall warnings.

What happened to essential city services?

The weather emergency also disrupted basic municipal services, specifically waste management. According to NOWnews, garbage collection was suspended in five different locations, including Zhubei and Tainan, on June 26, 2026.

City officials provided specific updates for waste removal in Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung to manage the accumulation of refuse during the suspension period. The suspension of these services was a direct result of the hazardous road conditions and the flooding reported in low-lying areas.

The impact of the storm is summarized by the following verified developments:

• Rainfall exceeded 50mm per hour, surpassing local thresholds.
• More than 130 separate disaster reports were filed across the region.
• Lianhua Lane in Zhubei experienced severe inundation, trapping cars.
• Taiyuan Road underpass pumps failed to operate, leading to a public dispute over power supply.
• Work and classes were officially suspended starting at noon on June 26, 2026.

The contrast in reporting between the city administration and independent news outlets regarding the Taiyuan Road pumps highlights a gap in the official narrative. While Mayor Kao Hung-an pointed to Taipower, the reported failure of the motors to start despite available power suggests a potential maintenance or mechanical issue within the city’s own infrastructure.

As of the latest reports, local authorities continue to monitor water levels as the remnants of Typhoon Micra move through the area.