Taipei's low elevation, position between two rivers and high levels of rainfall all mean that flooding risks for the city are high, especially during typhoons. Here’s how the city's flood walls, and water pumps work to keep the capital city's streets dry.
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00:00This is the Shenzhen Jianguo water pumping station.
00:03It's one of dozens of water pumping stations in Taipei
00:06designed to keep flooding off of the city streets
00:09during periods of intense rainfall like this typhoon.
00:12Much of Taipei's urban center sits in a basin between two rivers,
00:16the Jilong and Danchui rivers,
00:18and the elevation in this area is only about 10 meters above sea level,
00:22so flooding is a big risk.
00:23The city has built flood walls with closable gates
00:26along most of the riversides in the city.
00:28Now those gates are closed today
00:30because the river's water level is especially high.
00:33That's in part because the pumps move water
00:35from designated collection areas in the city
00:37back into the rivers or to emergency reservoirs.
00:40This, along with other measures like diversion channels and levees,
00:43all work together to keep flooding to a minimum.
00:46Even with all these measures in place,
00:48flooding still can happen,
00:50so Taipei residents need to remain vigilant
00:52and be prepared for anything.
00:54Scott Huang, Leon Lien, and Chris Gorin for Taiwan Plus.