Heavy rainfall flooded parts of Taiwan on Thursday as tropical storm Kong-rey brought torrential rain to the island.

Parts of southern Taiwan, including Tainan city, Yunlin County and Chiayi County, accumulated more than 500 mm of rain on Thursday, and Taiwan's Water Resources Agency issued severe flood warnings to eight cities and counties.

Vehicles were seen driving in flooded streets in Chiayi and a train station there was also flooded.

Taiwan issued both sea and land warnings since Thursday and businesses and schools in southern and eastern areas were closed.