flooding

"There were no special flooding warnings and no broadcast," an administrator of a high school in Guangfu told the BBC on condition of anonymity.

It comes after authorities said at least 17 people had been killed and more missing in Taiwan after a lake burst on Tuesday, causing severe flooding in the island's east.

Some areas, however, saw dramatic rainfall over a short period of time, causing minor flooding in Twentynine Palms and dangerous mud and debris flows in the San Bernardino County mountains, trapping several motorists.

Schools and government offices in large parts of the country, including the capital Manila, have been shut and authorities have warned of widespread flooding and landslides and damage to homes and infrastructure.

The warnings meant flooding was expected, and residents and business owners were urged to act to prevent damage to their properties, the Environment Agency said.