Long waves hit Beinan River estuary in Taitung, Amis people evacuate sea ritual

(CNA reporter Chang Chi, Taitung County, Sept. 9) The Matang (Matang) tribe of Amis people in Taitung City recently held a sea ritual at the mouth of the Beinan River. As Typhoon Bavi approached, long waves hit the shore around midnight today, and tribal members urgently evacuated their campsite to a safe area, allowing the ritual to proceed smoothly.

Li Wu Ying-chih of the Matang tribe said that the sea ritual is traditionally held for three days and two nights, with 10 teams participating this year, ranging in age from 16 to 50. Yesterday, four age groups set up camp at the mouth of the Beinan River. The weather and sea conditions were stable for the first two days. Around midnight today, the waves suddenly became larger, and seawater surged onto the beach.

Li Wu Ying-chih stated that after the tribal elders noticed the change in sea conditions, they decided to evacuate to a safe place immediately, and no one was injured. Although the sea ritual was disrupted by the typhoon, the tribe members did not interrupt the ritual but completed it under the premise of respecting nature and ensuring safety.

County Councilor Chen Cheng-tsung, who attended the event, said that he was participating in the sea ritual with the age groups when he heard the sound of waves getting louder around midnight. Everyone realized that the sea conditions were not right, and the leadership decided to evacuate all supplies and equipment. The tribal members were very cooperative and completed the evacuation work quickly.

The outer circulation of Typhoon Bavi has already affected the waters off the east coast, with long waves of about 4 meters appearing along the coasts of Taitung and Green Island. Green Island and Orchid Island had already evacuated tourists yesterday. The Coast Guard Administration statistics show that a total of about 770 people were evacuated, and about 1,300 people were stranded. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150709

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