Chi Lien-cheng: Wanli landslide lake may overflow due to typhoon; central government to unify response

(Central News Agency, Taipei, July 9) With Typhoon Bavi approaching, Executive Yuan Minister Without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng said today that the current water level of the Wanli Creek landslide lake in Hualien is 70%, and it may overflow under the typhoon's rainfall. He has instructed the Wanli Creek landslide lake response team to merge with the Central Disaster Response Center, with the central government to decide on the issuance of yellow and red alerts.

On June 21, during a routine monitoring mission of the Mataian Creek, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Hualien Branch discovered a new landslide lake in a prominent collapse area upstream of the Wanli Creek to the north.

Chi Lien-cheng stated at a press conference after the Executive Yuan meeting that the current water level of the Wanli Creek landslide lake in Hualien is 70%. It is predicted that it may overflow under the typhoon's rainfall. Therefore, all response teams related to the Wanli Creek landslide lake have been instructed to merge and operate after the Central Disaster Response Center is established this afternoon, with the central response center deciding on the issuance of yellow and red alerts.

Chi Lien-cheng urged the Ruisui Township and Fenglin Town offices to inspect whether the broadcast system and tsunami warning system are operating normally, whether shelters have backup power, and whether evacuation routes and transportation are prepared, and if vulnerable households have been re-surveyed. Vertical evacuation must also strictly adhere to regulations. Currently, preventive measures have been taken for the dikes on both the north and south banks of the Wanli Creek and the ultra-high voltage substation in Fenglin Town. This time, if the Wanli Creek landslide lake overflows, the disaster must be minimized.

The Ministry of the Interior added that regarding the Mataian Creek and Wanli Creek landslide lakes in Hualien, the Ministry of Agriculture's Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency had already entered the Central Disaster Response Center at 4 p.m. on the 8th, maintaining close contact with the Hualien County Government and continuously monitoring alert notifications. For safety reasons, in cooperation with the Hualien County Government, evacuation and shelter arrangements for residents of Wanli Creek were initiated early today. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150709

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