Hualien County’s Barrier Lake Warning Remains in Effect

A red warning remains in effect for a barrier lake on the Mataian River in Hualien County, Taiwan, as officials await expert assessments following a partial collapse earlier this week. Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih announced that the warning will not be lifted until evaluations are completed, emphasizing the need for safety in the region.

The situation escalated on March 12, 2024, when the barrier lake partially collapsed, impacting the surrounding areas, particularly the town of Guangfu. In a press conference in Taipei, Chen addressed media inquiries about ongoing disaster relief efforts and the condition of the lake, which currently has a water level of approximately 113 meters. According to Chen, the volume of water has decreased to around 7 million tonnes since the incident.

As the region continues to experience soil and rock erosion, the installation of water gauges has been suspended for safety reasons. Chen stated that the gauges would be installed as soon as conditions permit. “The most important thing is to provide a safe living environment for midstream and downstream residents,” he said.

In response to questions about the establishment of separate command posts by central and county governments, Chen clarified that the Executive Yuan has set up a local command post to enhance the delivery of relief supplies and facilitate silt removal. “The primary task of the command post is to restore all the county’s disaster areas as soon as possible,” he noted, reinforcing the commitment of both levels of government to cooperate in meeting the needs of affected residents.

The terminology regarding the incident has also been a point of clarification. Chen distinguished between “overflow” and “collapse,” explaining that overflow refers to the lake’s water spilling over the natural dam, while collapse pertains to the dam itself failing. “The Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation is responsible for anticipating when the lake water will flow over the top of the dam based on water levels,” he said. He added that previous reports focused on potential overflow risks to protect midstream and downstream areas.

The human impact of this disaster has been significant. Search-and-rescue teams have been working tirelessly in the aftermath of the collapse. Tragically, on March 14, 2024, rescuers recovered the body of an 87-year-old woman, identified as Huang, from her home on Fozu Street in Guangfu. The Kaohsiung Fire Department reported that Huang’s location was pinpointed using information provided by her family, but access was complicated by roughly 2 meters of mud and waist-deep floodwaters.

A dedicated team of 15 rescuers and 12 military personnel managed to reach Huang’s home on foot, eventually gaining access by opening the roof. They discovered her body beneath a religious altar at approximately 14:35 local time. Huang’s family expressed their gratitude to the rescuers for enabling them to hold a proper funeral.

With Huang’s recovery, authorities in Hualien County have updated the flood toll to reflect a total of 17 confirmed deaths, with seven individuals still reported missing and 83 others injured. The community remains in a state of vigilance as officials continue to monitor the lake’s condition and address the needs of those affected by this disaster.