Strengthening Mountain Area Preparedness! Mayor Chen Inspects Post-Disaster Reconstruction, Landslide Prevention, and Meinong Drainage Projects

Affected by Typhoon Bavi and its outer circulation, according to the latest forecast from the Central Weather Administration, Kaohsiung City must remain vigilant against strong winds and heavy rains today and tomorrow (10th and 11th). To strengthen disaster preparedness in mountainous areas and enhance overall flood resilience, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai conducted an on-site inspection this afternoon (10th) at the Taoyuan District Office and Taoyuan Junior High School, reviewing typhoon preparedness and post-disaster reconstruction progress. He confirmed that supplies, support personnel, and emergency response measures are fully in place, and expressed gratitude to Colonel Wu of the Kaohsiung Reserve Command for deploying troops to assist in typhoon preparedness.

Subsequently, Mayor Chen visited Liugui District to inspect the dredging outcomes of DF113 in Xinfa Village and DF053 in Zhongxing Village—both identified as debris-flow-prone streams—and supervised the Environmental Protection Bureau’s roadside ditch cleaning operations. He concluded his tour at Qiyang Bridge in Meinong District, inspecting flood prevention measures and future planning for the Furen Drainage system, urging all departments to fully implement flood preparedness, strengthen inter-agency cooperation, and safeguard the lives and property of citizens.

The Water Resources Bureau reported that the post-disaster reconstruction project for the landslide area behind Taoyuan Junior High School has a contract value of approximately NT$28.68 million. Construction began on March 25, 115 (2026), with completion scheduled for January 18, 116 (2027). The project includes constructing a 275-meter retaining wall, slope netting and vegetation over 1,000 square meters, and installing one check dam. These measures will effectively stabilize the slope toe, trap sediment, reduce energy, and enhance slope stability, minimizing the risk of soil movement and erosion during heavy rains, thereby strengthening the safety of the school and surrounding communities.

In Liugui District, DF113 debris-flow-prone stream has completed 260 meters of channel dredging, removing approximately 1,000 cubic meters of sediment, effectively restoring the stream’s flood conveyance capacity. DF053 in Zhongxing Village has completed 774 meters of channel dredging, removing about 50,000 cubic meters of sediment at a cost of approximately NT$14 million. The area has been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture for designation as a 'Special Soil and Water Conservation Area.' The city will seek approximately NT$100 million in funding for long-term governance projects, planning to construct sediment control dams, diversion dikes, and river channel realignment to further enhance disaster resilience in mountainous regions.

Additionally, following heavy rains on June 25 that caused insufficient flood discharge in parts of the Furen Drainage in Meinong, the city has submitted the 'Upstream Improvement Project for Furen Drainage No. 3 Bridge in Meinong District.' The plan involves widening the existing 12-meter-wide channel to 15 meters, with a total revetment length of approximately 1,560 meters. The project requires a budget of approximately NT$173 million and has been included in the central government’s 'Comprehensive Improvement Plan for County-City Managed Rivers and Drains in Response to Climate Change' for review. The city will continue to seek central government subsidies to accelerate improvements to drainage bottlenecks, enhance the flood discharge capacity of the Furen Drainage, and improve Meinong’s overall flood resilience.

The Environmental Protection Bureau reported that to improve road drainage efficiency during typhoons, it has proactively strengthened inspections and dredging of roadside ditches and drainage outlets across the city. Since July 8, it has mobilized 1,049 personnel and 158 vehicles, completing 72.71 kilometers of main road ditch cleaning, clearing 13,376 clogged roadside drainage outlets and 10,212 clogged grates, and removing a total of 221.263 tons of waste. As of July 10, the city has cumulatively completed 4,321 kilometers of ditch dredging and removed 20,983 tons of waste this year. All district cleaning teams have completed flood preparedness and remain on standby, ready to conduct road patrols, ditch cleaning, and积水 removal in response to weather and rainfall changes, ensuring smooth drainage and minimizing the risk of road flooding.

Mayor Chen emphasized that in the face of typhoon and extreme rainfall threats, the city adheres to the principle of 'proactive deployment, prevention over disaster relief.' In addition to continuously advancing water management and slope stabilization projects, all departments are required to fully implement flood patrols, drainage cleaning, equipment pre-positioning, and supply preparedness. The city is also strengthening coordination mechanisms among central, local, and military agencies to ensure rapid response and disaster relief operations when disasters occur, continuously enhancing Kaohsiung’s overall disaster resilience.