Slope collapse on North‑Yi Highway’s Pinglin section halts traffic, no casualties, repairs underway.

New Taipei City was struck by a sudden and intense downpour this afternoon, with the drastic weather changes quickly taking a heavy toll on mountain transportation. According to reports from relevant authorities and on-site information, at around 5:00 PM—a peak period as evening traffic began to increase—a significant slope collapse and rockfall occurred on a section of the Bei-Yi Highway in New Taipei City's Pinglin District. A massive amount of earth and rock, accompanied by trees loosened by rainwater, slid down the slope without warning and instantly blocked the road, causing a complete blockage of both directions and paralyzing traffic, leaving vehicles unable to pass.

Fortunately, at the time of the sudden collapse, no pedestrians or vehicles passing through the section were directly struck by the falling rocks, and no casualties or vehicle damage were reported. In response to the road closure, the local police precinct dispatched officers to the scene immediately upon receiving the report. They set up traffic controls and warning signs at a distance in both directions of the collapse site to guide motorists to detour in advance or wait in safe areas, preventing subsequent passing vehicles from entering the danger area due to poor visibility or an inability to react in time, which could lead to secondary accidents.

Regarding the cleanup and restoration work for the incident, the police promptly notified the Jingmei Maintenance Section of the Directorate General of Highways, Ministry of Communications. Upon receiving the report, the Jingmei Maintenance Section quickly dispatched heavy repair machinery and engineering personnel to the scene. However, because the site was littered with large trees and massive amounts of earth in addition to scattered rocks, combined with the growing darkness and unstable weather conditions in the mountains, certain difficulties and safety concerns were posed for the repair work. Engineering personnel are currently sparing no effort to accelerate operations under the principle of ensuring construction safety, hoping to clear the road obstacles as quickly as possible and restore normal traffic on the section.

As one of the vital provincial highway arteries connecting the Greater Taipei area and Yilan County, the Bei-Yi Highway has always been an important transportation artery for many commuters, freight logistics, and weekend tourists. However, the road is lined with towering mountains and complex geological conditions, with steep slopes along certain sections. Whenever continuous rainfall, heavy downpours, or extreme weather events such as typhoons occur, the mountain soil becomes saturated with water, easily triggering soil loosening, rockfalls, or even large-scale collapses. Such natural disasters not only test the routine maintenance and slope monitoring capabilities of highway authorities, but also pose a persistent potential threat to the personal safety of passing motorists.

In recent years, with the increasing frequency of extreme weather, the phenomenon of short-duration heavy rainfall has become increasingly common, and disaster prevention and response mechanisms for mountain roads in Taiwan are facing even more severe challenges. During such flood seasons or heavy rain advisories, relevant authorities frequently step up patrols and alert statuses for high-risk mountain roads. The rockfall incident on the Pinglin section of the Bei-Yi Highway not only highlights the importance of real-time reporting and cross-departmental coordination mechanisms, but also serves as another reminder that motorists should try to avoid driving on mountain roads during severe weather or periods of rainfall. If travel is absolutely necessary, motorists must stay informed about road conditions and remain highly vigilant to ensure safety.

(Source of facts: Central News Agency)