Heavy rain in southern Taiwan pushed the Erren River over its banks again, leaving the Shian Bridge road buried in mud and shut to traffic — bad news for commuters between Kaohsiung and Tainan.

• Days of extreme rain in Kaohsiung swelled the Erren River until it swamped the bridge deck.
• The bridge links Kaohsiung's Alian district to Tainan's Guiren district, so drivers have to detour.
• Crews are washing the mud off the Alian side, and the road stays closed while they work.
• The same bridge was badly damaged by flooding during the late-June storms.
• Officials are warning people not to force their way across to save a few minutes.

Outlook: The road reopens only once the cleanup is done, and more heavy rain would set it back again.