Hualien County prosecutors today questioned four people and searched the Guangfu Township (光復) office and home of its mayor over alleged negligence in evacuation duties during last year’s Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) flood that left 19 dead and five missing.
The Hualien District Prosecutors’ Office directed the search at 7am, reviewing evacuation lists and disaster alerts to clarify whether the township office failed to fulfill its responsibilities.
After the search at about 10am, Guangfu Township Mayor Lin Ching-shui (林清水), secretary Chang Yuan-pao (張源寶) and other township office staff were taken in for further questioning.
Photo: CNA
Following the flood on Sept. 23 last year, prosecutors have been collecting evidence from central, county and township authorities to determine how many people were evacuated and whether the evacuation was properly carried out.
After a warning for Typhoon Ragasa was issued on Sept. 21, disaster response meetings estimated that 275 people needed to be evacuated from Hualien.
By 6pm that day, a subsequent meeting raised the figure to 1,800 households, or about 8,000 people.
Three evacuation methods were established: moving to shelters, staying with relatives or friends and vertical evacuation in reinforced concrete buildings with two or more stories.
Bedridden and elderly people with mobility issues were also ordered to evacuate.
Most buildings impacted by the flood were not sturdy, and many victims lived in single-story houses.
The highest number of casualties was around Fozu Street in Guangfu, mostly among the elderly, with most deaths occurring on the first floor.
Preliminary investigations suggest that evacuations were insufficient, and many residents afterward questioned why they did not receive evacuation notices.
The Hualien District Prosecutors’ Office said the investigation to determine whether there was any negligence among government authorities is ongoing.
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