Hualien Landslide Dam Disaster Drill Launched, Simulating Collapse and Initiating Large-Scale Evacuation
Hualien County Government conducted a disaster evacuation drill for the Mata'an Creek landslide dam, simulating a potential collapse due to an earthquake and initiating large-scale evacuation and shelter arrangements. The drill involved cell phone alerts and alarms, though some alerts were not received immediately. Officials inspected various stations.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 15:56
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 16:01 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 18:29 (2h 27m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporters Chang Chi, Chang Yi-liang, Hualien County, 30th) Hualien County Government today held a landslide dam disaster evacuation and sheltering drill with three townships. The live exercise took place in the afternoon, simulating the potential overflow and collapse of the newly formed Mata'an Creek landslide dam due to an earthquake, focusing on large-scale evacuation and sheltering arrangements.
The Mata'an Creek landslide dam overflowed on September 23, 2025, with creek water carrying soil and mud breaching the embankment and rushing into Guangfu Township, causing a severe disaster with 19 deaths and 5 missing.
The "Mata'an Creek Landslide Dam Disaster Evacuation and Sheltering Drill" organized by the Hualien County Government entered its practical exercise phase. Residents in the Guangfu area successively received cell phone text messages at 1:25 PM and 1:30 PM.
The text message content was: "Drill, landslide dam alarm, red alert. The newly formed Mata'an Creek landslide dam in Hualien County may overflow and collapse due to an earthquake (magnitude 5 weak). Residents in the alert areas, including Wanrong Township, Fenglin Township, and Guangfu Township, please immediately take evacuation measures according to local government instructions."
At 1:30 PM, the exclusive landslide dam alarm sounded, ringing for 5 seconds, pausing for 5 seconds, repeating 9 times, for a total duration of 85 seconds. Residents carried out evacuation actions as required, heading to reception points at shelters to wait for transportation, while those with relatives left their homes, and those performing vertical evacuation went to the second floor to wait.
Cell phone text messages were originally scheduled to be sent at 1:25 PM, but Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei and others at the forward command center, as well as some residents in Guangfu Township, did not receive the messages immediately.
In addition, when the alarm sounded at 1:30 PM, possibly due to the excessive noise from the generator at the forward command center, Executive Yuan Political Commissioner Ji Lian-cheng and others mistakenly thought the alarm had not sounded. However, this interlude did not affect the progress of the drill.
Subsequently, Ji Lian-cheng and Hsu Chen-wei and others successively inspected the search and rescue station, pet shelter, and medical station, then proceeded to Guangfu Township Office to inspect the disaster response center and sheltering situation. The Hualien County Government also arranged patrol vehicles to depart from Guangfu Sugar Factory and proceed to inspect the disaster relief center, medical center, and sheltering facilities.
In coordination with the practical exercise requirements, the Mata'an Creek temporary bridge was fully closed to traffic from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM, and entry for people and vehicles into the Guangfu Township alert zone was prohibited. Passengers disembarking at Guangfu Station were required to cooperate with Taiwan Railways Administration personnel to be guided to the second floor for vertical evacuation. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1140430
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(Central News Agency reporters Chang Chi, Chang Yi-liang, Hualien County, 30th) Hualien County Government today held a landslide dam disaster evacuation and sheltering drill with three townships. The live exercise took place in the afternoon, simulating the potential overflow and collapse of the newly formed Mata'an Creek landslide dam due to an earthquake, focusing on large-scale evacuation and sheltering arrangements.
The Mata'an Creek landslide dam overflowed on September 23, 2025, with creek water carrying soil and mud breaching the embankment and rushing into Guangfu Township, causing a severe disaster with 19 deaths and 5 missing.
The "Mata'an Creek Landslide Dam Disaster Evacuation and Sheltering Drill" organized by the Hualien County Government entered its practical exercise phase. Residents in the Guangfu area successively received cell phone text messages at 1:25 PM and 1:30 PM.
The text message content was: "Drill, landslide dam alarm, red alert. The newly formed Mata'an Creek landslide dam in Hualien County may overflow and collapse due to an earthquake (magnitude 5 weak). Residents in the alert areas, including Wanrong Township, Fenglin Township, and Guangfu Township, please immediately take evacuation measures according to local government instructions."
At 1:30 PM, the exclusive landslide dam alarm sounded, ringing for 5 seconds, pausing for 5 seconds, repeating 9 times, for a total duration of 85 seconds. Residents carried out evacuation actions as required, heading to reception points at shelters to wait for transportation, while those with relatives left their homes, and those performing vertical evacuation went to the second floor to wait.
Cell phone text messages were originally scheduled to be sent at 1:25 PM, but Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei and others at the forward command center, as well as some residents in Guangfu Township, did not receive the messages immediately.
In addition, when the alarm sounded at 1:30 PM, possibly due to the excessive noise from the generator at the forward command center, Executive Yuan Political Commissioner Ji Lian-cheng and others mistakenly thought the alarm had not sounded. However, this interlude did not affect the progress of the drill.
Subsequently, Ji Lian-cheng and Hsu Chen-wei and others successively inspected the search and rescue station, pet shelter, and medical station, then proceeded to Guangfu Township Office to inspect the disaster response center and sheltering situation. The Hualien County Government also arranged patrol vehicles to depart from Guangfu Sugar Factory and proceed to inspect the disaster relief center, medical center, and sheltering facilities.
In coordination with the practical exercise requirements, the Mata'an Creek temporary bridge was fully closed to traffic from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM, and entry for people and vehicles into the Guangfu Township alert zone was prohibited. Passengers disembarking at Guangfu Station were required to cooperate with Taiwan Railways Administration personnel to be guided to the second floor for vertical evacuation. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1140430
Choose to stand with the facts. Every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.