Days of heavy rain have flooded southern Taiwan, and with a typhoon closing in, the worst may still be ahead for residents in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Hualien.

• A tropical low and southwest winds have dumped rain on the south and east for three days straight, with heavy rain expected to continue.
• Nearly 600 flooding incidents have been reported, dozens still not drained, and 18,000 homes lost power — most is now back on.
• Premier Cho Jung-tai has put the national disaster center on level-two alert and promised local governments whatever resources they need, including nearly 1,900 pumps.
• A barrier lake on the Wanli River in Hualien is on red alert, with evacuations underway in Fenglin and Wanrong.
• Typhoon Sader is strengthening and a sea warning could come as early as Wednesday, just as schools are set to reopen next week.

Outlook: More rain, a strengthening typhoon and high tides are set to hit together in the coming days, so flooding and evacuations will likely widen.