TAIPEI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rain has started to ease in Taiwan after plaguing the island for about four days, local weather authority said Sunday.
The torrential rain, caused by the combined effects of northeasterly winds and Typhoon Khanun south of Taiwan, prompted the Taitung and Hualien counties to close schools and offices Sunday.
The wet weather is expected to end on the flat land from Sunday evening,the local weather bureau said.
All flood alerts have been canceled as the rain eases.
Downpours have caused mudslides in some counties. As of 9:30 a.m., a red alert had been issued for 229 mudslide-prone streams and rivers in Yilan, Taitung, Hualien counties and New Taipei City.
A landslide in Taitung County's forest recreation area has blocked a mountain road, stranding more than 90 hikers with limited food and water supplies.
The unrelenting rain has also disrupted highway, railway as well as air traffic.
A railway section near Taimali in Taitung has been damaged by flooding, affecting about 2,000 passengers. Train services resumed later Sunday after repairs while another section is expected to reopen Monday afternoon.
