Floodwaters from the overflowing Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) barrier lake swept into Hualien County’s Guangfu Township (光復) yesterday afternoon, leaving hundreds of people trapped and three missing as of press time last night, the Hualien County Fire Bureau said.
The waters surged into downtown Guangfu after the riverbank burst at about 2:50pm, carrying mud and debris and submerging streets to rooftop level in some areas.
Residents were seen climbing onto vehicles and rooftops to await rescue as thick, silt-laden water inundated the town.
Photo: CNA
The surge destroyed the Mataian Bridge (馬太鞍溪橋) and flooded the Guangfu Railway Station.
Rescue operations were launched with support from fire departments in Taipei, New Taipei City and Taitung, as well as civilian groups that provided boats.
Officials urged residents to move to higher floors if possible, while search-and-rescue teams prioritized those trapped at ground level.
Photo courtesy of a member of the public
A Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) meeting yesterday morning had determined that the Mataian River barrier lake in Wanrong Township (萬榮) might overflow, prompting evacuations, creek clearance and close monitoring.
Barrier lakes form when debris, landslides or other blockages create temporary dams along rivers.
Authorities said last night that two critically ill people died after they were unable to receive timely medical care due to flooding.
Photo courtesy of a member of the public
Separately, the land warning for Typhoon Ragasa was lifted at 8:30am yesterday, while the sea warning was lifted at 8:30pm.
The CEOC reported a total of 221 disasters nationwide, resulting in two deaths, 30 missing and 28 injuries. In response to the collapse of the Matai Anxi Bridge, the Highway Bureau has developed alternative routes.
The injured were in Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Hualien County, Taitung and outlying Penghu County.
Of the 8,524 residents in the area, 167 have been housed in three shelters, 3,118 sought refuge with family and friends, while the other 5,239 relocated to higher ground, the center said.
Meanwhile, landslide and mudslide warnings have been issued in Yilan, Hualien, Taitung and Pingtung counties.
In Taitung, a suspected tornado tore off tin roofs and blew over road signs early yesterday morning, a local resident said.
Driftwood was seen scattered over Taitung City Seaside Park.
In Pingtung County’s Liouciou Township (琉球), off the southwestern coast, a resident posted a video in a local Facebook group showing driftwood piled up along the Houshi Fringing Reef section of the island’s highway, blocking traffic.
Liouciou Township Councilor Hung Wen-liang (洪文良) said that although wind and rain were not especially strong on Monday night, waves were high and swept driftwood onto the road.
The waves swept up a lot of driftwood previously caught in the reefs and were hard to clean off during the storms of Typhoon Podul, which hit Taiwan last month, he said.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
COVETED PRIZE: The US president would be a peace prize laureate should he persuade Xi Jinping to abandon military aggression against Taiwan, William Lai said US President Donald Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize should he be able to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to abandon the use of force against Taiwan, President William Lai (賴清德) told a conservative US radio show and podcast in an interview. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer, despite the absence of formal ties, but since Trump took office earlier this year he has not announced any new arms sales to the nation. Trump could meet Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Lai, speaking on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would severely threaten the national security of the US, Japan, the Philippines and other nations, while global economic losses could reach US$10 trillion, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) wrote in an article published yesterday in Foreign Affairs. “The future of Taiwan is not merely a regional concern; it is a test of whether the international order can withstand the pressure of authoritarian expansionism,” Lin wrote in the article titled “Taiwan’s Plan for Peace Through Strength — How Investments in Resilience Can Deter Beijing.” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) intent to take Taiwan by force
RSS