Hualien Flooding Caused by Blocked Drains, Situation Under Control: WRA
Flooding occurred in parts of Hualien's Guangfu area on the 15th due to heavy rain. Water Resources Agency (WRA) Director-General Lai Jui-lin stated today (21st) that the causes included uncleared sediment blocking urban drains and an incomplete seal in an engineering project. He confirmed that the floodwaters have receded, the Hualien and Mataian rivers are flowing smoothly at low levels, and the situation is under control.
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- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 10:57
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 11:31 (33 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 21, 2026 at 11:36 (4 min after Collected)
(CNA, Taipei, May 21, reported by Hsieh Yi-hsuan) Parts of the Guangfu area in Hualien were flooded on the 15th due to heavy rain. Water Resources Agency (WRA) Director-General Lai Jui-lin stated today that the causes included piled earth and sand that had not been fully cleared, leading to blocked urban drainage ditches, and an incomplete seal in an engineering project, which allowed water to flow into a village causing flooding. Currently, the Hualien and Mataian rivers have low water levels and are flowing freely, and the situation is fully under control.
On the afternoon of the 15th, heavy rainfall led to flooding in Dongfu Village's 12th neighborhood and Fozu Street in Hualien's Guangfu Township. Twelve households, totaling 14 residents, were evacuated and sheltered at the Guangfu Township Office that day.
Regarding the cause of last week's flooding in Guangfu, Hualien, Lai Jui-lin told the media before a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Economics Committee that preliminary findings point to two main factors. First, concerning urban drainage, earth and sand piled on flat land in the Guangfu area had not been completely removed, causing blockages in city drainage ditches and leading to localized flooding, though the water receded quite quickly.
Lai Jui-lin mentioned that the second factor was a sheet piling project being conducted by the county government in a wild creek next to the river. An incompletely sealed gap allowed water to flow into the village, causing inundation. Currently, the conditions of the Hualien and Mataian rivers are good, with low water levels and clear channels. The main drainage system's discharge into the rivers is also very smooth, and the situation is under control with no particular issues.
Regarding external concerns about the water situation in southern Taiwan, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Chin-tsang stated that there are currently about 100 million tons of water in the south. He estimated that every effort will be made to ensure there are no problems with residential and industrial water supply before the end of June, and rainfall conditions will continue to be monitored.
On the afternoon of the 15th, heavy rainfall led to flooding in Dongfu Village's 12th neighborhood and Fozu Street in Hualien's Guangfu Township. Twelve households, totaling 14 residents, were evacuated and sheltered at the Guangfu Township Office that day.
Regarding the cause of last week's flooding in Guangfu, Hualien, Lai Jui-lin told the media before a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Economics Committee that preliminary findings point to two main factors. First, concerning urban drainage, earth and sand piled on flat land in the Guangfu area had not been completely removed, causing blockages in city drainage ditches and leading to localized flooding, though the water receded quite quickly.
Lai Jui-lin mentioned that the second factor was a sheet piling project being conducted by the county government in a wild creek next to the river. An incompletely sealed gap allowed water to flow into the village, causing inundation. Currently, the conditions of the Hualien and Mataian rivers are good, with low water levels and clear channels. The main drainage system's discharge into the rivers is also very smooth, and the situation is under control with no particular issues.
Regarding external concerns about the water situation in southern Taiwan, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Chin-tsang stated that there are currently about 100 million tons of water in the south. He estimated that every effort will be made to ensure there are no problems with residential and industrial water supply before the end of June, and rainfall conditions will continue to be monitored.