Evacuation Warnings in Hualien as Barrier Lake Threatens To Overflow
A barrier lake in Hualien discovered over the weekend could overflow in the coming days. Officials say they are drafting evacuation plans and have warned some residents they may need to leave ahead of a possible breach.
**Evacuation Warnings Issued for At-Risk Households Due to Barrier Lake Threat**
REPORTER:
Officials warn a recently formed barrier lake in the mountains of eastern Taiwan is in danger of overflowing.
Chi Lien-cheng (MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO):
The storage capacity is about 600 cubic meters which is about six million tons. It's expected to overflow within 10 to 20 days and if there’s heavy rain, it could be even earlier.
REPORTER:
The outer bands of Typhoon Mekkhala are expected to bring showers to Taiwan on Thursday, increasing the risk of flash floods. In two downstream townships, several households have been told to be ready to evacuate. If the situation worsens, mandatory evacuation orders could follow. Last year, another barrier lake nearby burst its banks, killing 19 people and flooding Hualien’s Guangfu township.
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**Barrier Lake at Risk of Overflow: Preliminary Evacuation Warnings Issued**
REPORTER:
A new barrier lake in the mountains of eastern Taiwan could overflow in 10 to 20 days, prompting authorities to speed up evacuation plans.
Chi Lien-cheng (MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO):
The storage capacity is about 600 cubic meters which is about 6 million tons. It's expected to overflow within 10 to 20 days and if there’s heavy rain, it could be even earlier.
REPORTER:
The outer bands of Typhoon Mekkhala are expected to bring showers to Taiwan beginning on Thursday. Local officials from two townships downstream are working with forestry officials to determine evacuation areas. In the first phase, some at-risk residents would be asked to evacuate as a precaution. Emergency evacuations would be activated if the natural dam started overflowing. Last year, another barrier lake nearby burst its banks, killing 19 people and flooding the neighboring township.
