Mudslide Blocks Neihu's Kangle Tunnel 北市康樂隧道搶通 新北伯爵山莊土石滑落

In Taipei and New Taipei, mudslides and trees blocked the entrance of Kangle Tunnel in Neihu and Xizhi's Pochueh Villa community. The community's affected section has been blocked off to prevent people from entering. 

Typhoon Nesat brought heavy rain to Taiwan and the northern part of the country was the first to bear the brunt. Mud blocked the entrance of Neihu's Kangle Tunnel on the 16th, causing traffic to be stopped in both directions. After an overnight rush to clear the debris and mud, the tunnel was opened to traffic at 6:40 a.m. on the 17th.

Citizen: “Of course, I'm afraid. Earth and rock collapsed in front of the tunnel's entrance.”

There were many disasters in Neihu District. Fallen rocks were scattered on the road. A landslide also occurred at Antai Street. Mayor Ko Wen-je inspected the opening of floodgates early in the morning of the 17th.

Ko Wen-je, Taipei Mayor: “Level 3 opening is determined by the fire chief. Level 2 opening is decided by the deputy secretary-general. And level 1 is determined by the mayor. As of yesterday, we still did not reach level 2. I'm quite confident about the disaster preparedness system I've built over the past eight years.”

Disasters were also reported in New Taipei's Xizhi. Many houses in the Pochueh Villa community were hit by a landslide. The scene has been blocked off to ensure residents' safety.

Nearby Resident: “It's also very inconvenient, right? I'm going to live with friends in Taipei first.”

Nearby Resident: “It has impacted us because our community's electricity is all interconnected. We are worried if there is a power outage, it would greatly affect us.”

Hou Yu-yi, New Taipei Mayor: “The high-voltage substation is located in the Pochueh Villa community, which causes stress and panic among residents. I suggest that Taipower should do it once and for all and relocate all 11 high-voltage substations.”

New Taipei DPP city councilors criticized Hou for campaigning for KMT candidates on the 16th in Hsinchu. Hou responded that he had a complete grasp of the disaster situation throughout the day. If heavy rain approached, he would immediately rush back to take command, without delaying the disaster relief work at all. 

颱風尼莎外圍環流帶來豪雨，北台灣首當其衝。台北市內湖康樂隧道口16日發生邊坡土石及路樹崩塌滑落，導致隧道無法雙向通行，經過連夜搶通，已於上午6時40分開放通行。而內湖區也發生多處災情，落石散落在馬路上險象環生，安泰街191號更是邊坡滑落嚴重，市長柯文哲一早新增行程，視察水門開啟狀況。

台北市長柯文哲回應：「3級開設是消防局長坐鎮，2級開設是副祕書長級，到1級開設才要市長到。到昨天，你知道都沒有進入2級開設，我對我過去8年建立的防災體系相當有信心。」

豪雨致災，新北汐止也傳出災情，伯爵山莊多戶民宅受到衝擊，現場已經拉起封鎖線。

伯爵山莊周邊住戶回應：「有影響到，因為我們這個電都是一起的，怕如果停電出問題，我們這裡就變成說會擔心啊。」

新北市長侯友宜指出：「高壓變電廠設在伯爵山莊，造成居民在生活上的壓力跟恐慌。我建議台電應該一勞永逸，讓高壓電廠有11個地方，都能夠順利搬遷完畢。」

針對16日南下新竹輔選遭綠營新北市議員抨擊，新北市長侯友宜也回應，全天都有完整掌握整個災情的變化，強降雨快來的時候就立即趕回來坐鎮指揮，完全沒有耽誤救災工作。