Hualien Landslide Dam Flood Disaster: Families Seek National Compensation, 3 Government Units Refuse Payout
Families of victims from last year's landslide dam breach flood in Hualien County are seeking national compensation from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Water Resources Agency, and Guangfu Township Office. However, these three agencies have refused to pay, with only the Hualien County Government currently reviewing the case.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 17:48
- 🔍 Collected: May 3, 2026 at 18:01 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 3, 2026 at 18:04 (2 min after Collected)
Central News
(Central News Agency reporter Li Xianfeng, Hualien County, 3rd) The landslide dam in Hualien County's Mata'an Creek breached and overflowed last year, causing 19 deaths and 5 missing persons in Guangfu Township. Families of the deceased have filed national compensation claims against the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Water Resources Agency, Hualien County Government, and Guangfu Township Office. Except for the county government, which is still deliberating, the other three units have refused compensation.
Attorney Yeh Ching-yuan, representing the victims' families, told the Central News Agency by phone that according to the National Compensation Law, negotiations must first be conducted with government agencies. In this case, they are the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Hualien County Government, and the Guangfu Township Office.
Yeh Ching-yuan stated that the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency was the actual responsible agency for the landslide dam. Before the breach and overflow, when several legislators in the Legislative Yuan raised concerns about whether the landslide dam would collapse, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency guaranteed its safety, but the disaster still occurred. Furthermore, before the disaster, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency stated that the landslide dam could not be handled, but after the disaster, personnel were dispatched to dismantle it, proving their negligence and shirking of responsibility, yet they were the first to refuse compensation.
Regarding the Water Resources Agency, there was an opening in the river dike in Guangfu Township. Yeh Ching-yuan said that although this was a legal construction method, many residents had previously worried that it might cause disaster and hoped for measures such as closing the opening. The Water Resources Agency did not address this, clearly showing negligence in river and dike management.
Yeh Ching-yuan pointed out that if public facilities have defects in their establishment or management, causing damage to people's lives, bodies, personal freedom, or property, the state should bear liability for compensation. Both the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency and the Water Resources Agency have responsibility, but both have refused compensation.
Yeh Ching-yuan also noted that the Guangfu Township Office's negligence in evacuation efforts constituted dereliction of duty by public officials. The township chief has already been indicted by prosecutors, and the township office has also refused compensation; only the Hualien County Government is still deliberating.
Yeh Ching-yuan stated that in past incidents involving Taiwan Railways, such as the Puyuma Express incident and the Taroko Express accident, both were due to defects in the establishment or management of public facilities, and Taiwan Railways paid compensation. Now, the victims' families of the landslide dam disaster have no political party affiliation. They have already visited the KMT caucus and attempted to visit the DPP caucus but have not yet scheduled a meeting. They will continue to work to visit all three party caucuses to seek compensation for the families, whether through special legislation or other means, hoping for a swift resolution to spare the families from lengthy lawsuits on top of their grief.
Zhang Chen-wei, who organized a self-help group of 600 affected households after the 0923 Mata'an Creek landslide dam flood, stated in an interview that they gathered opinions and consolidated demands, submitting a petition to various central and local agencies, but have not yet received a response. Many disaster victims are busy with rebuilding their homes and have no time to attend to this; whether they will pursue national compensation in the future is a step they haven't reached yet.
Hualien District Prosecutor's Office Chief Prosecutor Liao Rong-kuan stated that any related and possible factors contributing to the Guangfu casualties will be investigated, and relevant evidence is being clarified. The public is welcome to provide any relevant evidence to the prosecutors. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150503
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(Central News Agency reporter Li Xianfeng, Hualien County, 3rd) The landslide dam in Hualien County's Mata'an Creek breached and overflowed last year, causing 19 deaths and 5 missing persons in Guangfu Township. Families of the deceased have filed national compensation claims against the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Water Resources Agency, Hualien County Government, and Guangfu Township Office. Except for the county government, which is still deliberating, the other three units have refused compensation.
Attorney Yeh Ching-yuan, representing the victims' families, told the Central News Agency by phone that according to the National Compensation Law, negotiations must first be conducted with government agencies. In this case, they are the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Hualien County Government, and the Guangfu Township Office.
Yeh Ching-yuan stated that the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency was the actual responsible agency for the landslide dam. Before the breach and overflow, when several legislators in the Legislative Yuan raised concerns about whether the landslide dam would collapse, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency guaranteed its safety, but the disaster still occurred. Furthermore, before the disaster, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency stated that the landslide dam could not be handled, but after the disaster, personnel were dispatched to dismantle it, proving their negligence and shirking of responsibility, yet they were the first to refuse compensation.
Regarding the Water Resources Agency, there was an opening in the river dike in Guangfu Township. Yeh Ching-yuan said that although this was a legal construction method, many residents had previously worried that it might cause disaster and hoped for measures such as closing the opening. The Water Resources Agency did not address this, clearly showing negligence in river and dike management.
Yeh Ching-yuan pointed out that if public facilities have defects in their establishment or management, causing damage to people's lives, bodies, personal freedom, or property, the state should bear liability for compensation. Both the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency and the Water Resources Agency have responsibility, but both have refused compensation.
Yeh Ching-yuan also noted that the Guangfu Township Office's negligence in evacuation efforts constituted dereliction of duty by public officials. The township chief has already been indicted by prosecutors, and the township office has also refused compensation; only the Hualien County Government is still deliberating.
Yeh Ching-yuan stated that in past incidents involving Taiwan Railways, such as the Puyuma Express incident and the Taroko Express accident, both were due to defects in the establishment or management of public facilities, and Taiwan Railways paid compensation. Now, the victims' families of the landslide dam disaster have no political party affiliation. They have already visited the KMT caucus and attempted to visit the DPP caucus but have not yet scheduled a meeting. They will continue to work to visit all three party caucuses to seek compensation for the families, whether through special legislation or other means, hoping for a swift resolution to spare the families from lengthy lawsuits on top of their grief.
Zhang Chen-wei, who organized a self-help group of 600 affected households after the 0923 Mata'an Creek landslide dam flood, stated in an interview that they gathered opinions and consolidated demands, submitting a petition to various central and local agencies, but have not yet received a response. Many disaster victims are busy with rebuilding their homes and have no time to attend to this; whether they will pursue national compensation in the future is a step they haven't reached yet.
Hualien District Prosecutor's Office Chief Prosecutor Liao Rong-kuan stated that any related and possible factors contributing to the Guangfu casualties will be investigated, and relevant evidence is being clarified. The public is welcome to provide any relevant evidence to the prosecutors. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150503
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to get the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.