Heavy Rain Hits Taiwan: Disaster Office Warns of Landslide Risk in Mountainous Areas, Urges Evacuation

(Central News Agency, Reporter Lai Yu-chen, Taipei, June 8) As heavy rain approaches, the Executive Yuan's Central Disaster Prevention Office (CDPO) held a pre-disaster intelligence assessment meeting today. It instructed that due to the prolonged rainfall, the risk of landslides, large-scale collapses, and road closures in mountainous areas has increased. It urged the implementation of evacuation preparations, the pre-positioning of pumping equipment in low-lying areas, and the strengthening of inspections and cleaning of ditches, box culverts, and storm sewers. For areas affected by the Ma'an River dammed lake, preventive evacuation should be carried out when necessary.

The Executive Yuan issued a press release stating that according to intelligence analysis from the Central Weather Administration (CWA) of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, from June 8 to 14, due to the approach of a stationary front and the influence of the southwest monsoon, heavy rainfall is possible across Taiwan.

The CDPO also held a pre-disaster intelligence assessment meeting today. It requested the CWA to continuously monitor the development of the stationary front, southwest airflow, and short-duration heavy rainfall, and to provide rolling updates on the latest forecasts, warnings, and real-time rainfall trends. For the catchment area of the Ma'an River dammed lake in Hualien, daily rolling updates on accumulated rainfall and forecasts should be provided for the Ministry of Agriculture to issue warnings and for local governments to use as a reference for evacuation.

Regarding the area affected by the Ma'an River dammed lake, the CDPO instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to continuously monitor the lake's water level, dam structure, rainfall, and downstream river channel changes. It also requested the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Council of Indigenous Peoples to maintain contact with the Hualien County Government and initiate preventive evacuations as early as possible when necessary. Furthermore, all flood prevention construction units and contractors should closely monitor rainfall conditions and pre-confirm worker evacuation, equipment safety, and disaster prevention measures for ongoing projects.

The CDPO also reminded that recent heavy rainfall has caused flooding in parts of Guangfu Township. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior should, according to their authority, supervise local governments to confirm measures such as internal water drainage, ditch cleaning, temporary drainage, and pre-positioning of pumps.

Addressing the risk of flooding and drainage issues in low-lying areas, the CDPO required the Ministry of Economic Affairs to strengthen inspections and preparations for river, regional drainage, and flood-prone area water conservancy facilities, and to pre-position pumping equipment, personnel, and repair capacity. It also requested the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior to supervise local governments in strengthening inspections and cleaning of ditches, box culverts, and storm sewers, completing test runs of pumping stations and preparations of flood prevention equipment. During the spring tide period, they should strengthen vigilance, patrols, and emergency drainage response in coastal low-lying areas.

Given the expected prolonged rainfall, the CDPO stated that the risk of landslides, large-scale collapses, and road closures in mountainous areas has increased, and there is a chance of yellow and red landslide warnings being issued. It requested the Ministry of Agriculture to implement rainfall monitoring, warning issuance, and risk notification, and to supervise local governments in completing evacuation preparations for high-risk settlements, registered residents, and vulnerable groups. It also requested the Ministry of the Interior and the Council of Indigenous Peoples to supervise local governments in pre-positioning daily necessities, communication backups, and disaster relief personnel and equipment for areas prone to isolation and mountain settlements. The Ministry of Health and Welfare was asked to urge local governments to strengthen preparations for shelter facilities.

The CDPO also urged the public to constantly pay attention to the latest weather information and warnings issued by the CWA, and to avoid traveling to mountainous areas, streams, coasts, and sea areas unless necessary. (Editor: Su Lung-chi) 1150608