Hualien Works on Flood Prevention With High-Risk Barrier Lakes
Villages on the north bank of the Matai'an River in eastern Taiwan are working to prevent flooding and clean up the messy aftermath after Tropical Storm Fung Wong caused another barrier lake to burst. Although authorities have wound down all breach warnings, they're keeping a close eye on the lakes that are most vulnerable to downpours and quakes.
Hualien Flood Disaster Recovery
Villages start cleanup as barrier lake risks persist
REPORTER:
Excavators are clearing out one of the flooded roads connecting this riverside village scattered along a hillside. Help is underway for flood-stricken Mingli village in Hualien County. Residents there have put up a red banner that reads “cheer up” after Tropical storm Fung Wong brought heavy rains, causing the nearby Matai’an river to spill into fields and houses by the riverbank. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Masao (MINGLI VILLAGE CHIEF):
The roads are pretty much [cleaned up].
We’ll make a preliminary damage assessment
and start fixing up flood victims’ homes.
REPORTER:
Since last week, the water resources agency has been dredging the river and blocking river water from overflowing into the village. This week’s mission is to raise the height of temporary flood barriers. And the extensions won’t just protect Mingli village from more flooding. Residents of neighboring Changqiao Village have also suffered damage to their homes from the spreading floods.
Changqiao Village resident:
I almost couldn’t handle it.
My family is not well-off
and [it’s hard] seeing something like this.
REPORTER:
Although authorities have lifted the red alert and let evacuees go back to their homes, they’re not letting their guard down. Surrounding the original barrier lake is 100 million cubic meters of granular earth. With enough rain or earthquakes, it COULD all slide down and block the waterway, posing risk to the downstream villages once more. As Taiwan frequently experiences small and large quakes and torrential rain throughout the year, the possibility of a chain of disasters has kept authorities vigilant.
Huang Chium-tse (DIRECTOR, HUALIEN FORESTRY AGENCY):
If there is any more extreme downpour
another new barrier lake might form.
It could also lead to landslides [around the lakes].
These scenarios are all possible.
REPORTER:
Without a bulletproof solution to keep the barrier lakes from bursting again, flood victims are wondering when they can put their mind at ease and where the next flood might strike.
