Li Meng-yen: Hualien Guangfu flooding is unrelated to the barrier lake; no need to panic
Following heavy rain in Hualien Guangfu, Executive Yuan advisor Li Meng-yen inspected the scene, confirming the flooding was caused by construction gaps and poor internal drainage, rather than the barrier lake.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 17:48
- 🔍 Collected: May 16, 2026 at 18:01 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 16, 2026 at 18:05 (3 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA) reported by Zhang Xu, Hualien, May 16 - After heavy rain caused flooding in Hualien Guangfu yesterday, Executive Yuan advisor Li Meng-yen inspected the area today. He stated that the two flooding incidents were caused by construction gaps and poor drainage, unrelated to the barrier lake. Preliminary inspections suggest drainage is currently functioning well, so residents need not panic.
Li Meng-yen, who also serves as the Deputy Executive Secretary for the restoration and reconstruction of the Mata'an Creek barrier lake disaster, inspected the Guangfu area this afternoon. He explained that in the Dongfu Village Ataomo tribe area, which flooded yesterday, the Hualien County government is carrying out work on the Madana Creek. Steel sheet piles were set up to prevent backflow from Mata'an Creek, leaving a 7-meter construction gap. Due to the rapid rise in the creek's water level, water likely backflowed from this gap, causing one household to flood.
Li stated that they will request the county government to promptly block the gap, ensuring no further openings exist.
In addition, flooding occurred in the Buddha Street area on the Lintian Road. Li explained that after the barrier lake disaster, many farmland sediments reached 3 to 4 meters high. Despite protection from sandbags, sediment still flowed into the side ditches, causing poor drainage, which is categorized as internal drainage issues.
Li stated that the Ministry of Agriculture is currently carrying out acquisition operations for the farmland in the Buddha Street area. In the current phase, the Hualien County government and the National Land Management Agency are conducting dredging of the ditches and strengthening sandbag placement to prevent sediment from flowing into the ditches again.
Li emphasized that this flooding is unrelated to the barrier lake, and there is no need to panic upon seeing images of the flooding. The central government, Hualien County government, and Guangfu Township office will work together to resolve the regional issue.
Hualien County Government Construction Department Director Deng Zi-yu stated that they will extend the steel sheet piles on the downstream of Madana Creek by another 100 meters upstream to prevent backflow from the upstream creek.
Li Meng-yen, who also serves as the Deputy Executive Secretary for the restoration and reconstruction of the Mata'an Creek barrier lake disaster, inspected the Guangfu area this afternoon. He explained that in the Dongfu Village Ataomo tribe area, which flooded yesterday, the Hualien County government is carrying out work on the Madana Creek. Steel sheet piles were set up to prevent backflow from Mata'an Creek, leaving a 7-meter construction gap. Due to the rapid rise in the creek's water level, water likely backflowed from this gap, causing one household to flood.
Li stated that they will request the county government to promptly block the gap, ensuring no further openings exist.
In addition, flooding occurred in the Buddha Street area on the Lintian Road. Li explained that after the barrier lake disaster, many farmland sediments reached 3 to 4 meters high. Despite protection from sandbags, sediment still flowed into the side ditches, causing poor drainage, which is categorized as internal drainage issues.
Li stated that the Ministry of Agriculture is currently carrying out acquisition operations for the farmland in the Buddha Street area. In the current phase, the Hualien County government and the National Land Management Agency are conducting dredging of the ditches and strengthening sandbag placement to prevent sediment from flowing into the ditches again.
Li emphasized that this flooding is unrelated to the barrier lake, and there is no need to panic upon seeing images of the flooding. The central government, Hualien County government, and Guangfu Township office will work together to resolve the regional issue.
Hualien County Government Construction Department Director Deng Zi-yu stated that they will extend the steel sheet piles on the downstream of Madana Creek by another 100 meters upstream to prevent backflow from the upstream creek.