TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung announced Saturday significant progress in drainage system maintenance, reporting major increases in cleared drain lengths and debris removal compared to last year.

As of June 12, the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau cleared 2,882 kilometers of roadside ditches and drain outlets and removed 18,546 metric tons of debris, per CNA. The figures represent increases of 1.5 to 1.8 times over the same period last year.

The bureau plans to clear a total of 4,631 km and remove 27,345 metric tons of debris this year, boosting flood control capacity by 50% compared to last year.

Meanwhile, the city’s Water Resources Bureau reported clearing 148.4 km of storm drains and water channels by the end of May, 30% more than last year. It also increased the removed debris volume from 93,603 to 210,063 cubic meters.

To improve transparency, the bureau launched a real-time online platform that tracks ditch clearing progress across districts, improving coordination. An upgraded version with faster performance and expanded search functions will launch later this year.

Officials stressed the importance of drainage infrastructure, especially during intense bursts of rain during typhoon season which can easily trigger urban flooding.