TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Hualien County's Matai'an Creek (馬太鞍溪) barrier lake remains under red alert Monday (Oct. 13) despite steady water flow through its spillway. Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) told the Legislative Yuan's (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, Economics Committee (經濟委員會) the dam structure remains unstable. Forecasts predict 200 millimeters of rainfall within 24 hours, heightening concerns among legislators.
The barrier lake overflowed in late September, causing widespread disaster in Guangfu Township (光復鄉) and triggering extensive ongoing relief efforts. Chen reported the lake's current water volume stands at just 1.7% of pre-overflow levels during the committee briefing. The Forest and Nature Conservation Agency (林業保育署) continues drone surveillance while a cross-ministerial professional group prepares comprehensive management discussions.
The Ministry of Agriculture (農業部) allocated NT$120 million (around US$3.9 million) to enhance monitoring and establish evacuation protocols for the unstable barrier lake site. Officials restored 2.5 kilometers of forest roads to facilitate monitoring equipment installation for tracking structural changes in the dam. Democratic Progressive Party (民進黨), Taiwan's ruling party, legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) suggested employing advanced technology for comprehensive river level monitoring. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$30.638)
