Hualien: The Hualien County government organized evacuation drills on Thursday in collaboration with three local townships to prepare for a possible disaster involving a barrier lake on Matai'an Creek following an earthquake.
According to Focus Taiwan, the drills were initiated after a barrier lake overflowed on September 23, 2025, which resulted in mud-laden floodwater inundating Guangfu Township. This incident led to the tragic loss of 19 lives, with five individuals still missing. To ensure readiness, emergency cellphone alerts were disseminated to residents at 1:25 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., with a message indicating a "Drill: barrier lake warning, red alert." It warned of the potential overflow or collapse of the newly formed barrier lake due to a magnitude-5 earthquake, urging residents in Wanrong, Fenglin, and Guangfu townships to adhere to local government evacuation directives.
A warning siren was activated at 1:30 p.m., lasting for 85 seconds in a five-second alternating on-off pattern, repeated nine times. Residents, guided by local officials, practiced evacuation protocols, which included moving to shelters, pickup points, staying with relatives, or relocating to upper floors. Minister Without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng, alongside Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei, inspected rescue stations, a pet shelter, and medical stations, and later visited the Guangfu Township Office to assess the disaster response center and shelter operations.
The county government coordinated inspection vehicles from the Hualien Sugar Factory in Guangfu to examine various rescue, medical, and evacuation sites. The live phase of the Hualien exercises took place from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., while a tabletop simulation was conducted earlier in the morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.