Hualien: On Sept. 23, a historic downpour caused the Matai’an Barrier Lake in Hualien to burst its banks, unleashing 60 million tons of water and debris through Guangfu Township and resulting in the deaths of at least 19 individuals. This catastrophic failure has brought to light Taiwan’s fragmented approach to disaster management and highlighted the long-term repercussions for an area that has been a cultural and athletic cornerstone for the Amis community and Taiwanese baseball.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lee Hong-yuan, a retired National Taiwan University professor specializing in hydraulic engineering, emphasized on Oct. 7 that the lake’s remote mountaintop location posed significant challenges for preventing its collapse. Efforts, therefore, shifted from prevention to damage mitigation. Initially, the lake held over 60 million tons of water, approximately 60 percent of its full capacity, and a single typhoon could exacerbate conditions, eroding the dam further.
Lee, in collaboration with NTU Civil Engineering Chair You Jiing-yun, conducted simulations that estimated a more severe flooding scenario than previously projected, leading to an increased evacuation warning for around 8,500 people, up from the initial 697. The subsequent deluge was described by Lee as “more like a tsunami.”
The initial evacuation estimate of 600 people was provided by a research team from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. Speaking with CNA on Oct. 5, Weng Meng-chia, a civil engineering professor at the university, acknowledged that their simulation overlooked sediment content, a crucial factor considered in NTU’s analysis. Although some flooded areas matched Weng’s team’s projections, he agreed that Taiwan’s current disaster simulation approach requires further refinement.
The final evacuation zone was determined during a Sept. 21 meeting of the Central Emergency Operation Center, which had been activated in anticipation of Typhoon Ragasa. Despite the proximity of the flooded area to the evacuation zone, most fatalities occurred among residents of villages under mandatory evacuation orders, prompting scrutiny of evacuation procedures and a criminal investigation into possible negligence by public officials.
The interior minister stated that Hualien County and lower-level township and village offices were responsible for leading evacuations, supported by the military. Hualien County authorities knew 1,837 households needed evacuation 43 hours before the overflow, but KMT legislator Fu Kun-chi argued that the responsibility lay solely with local offices. Datong Village head Chiu Chin-chung noted that some villagers refused to leave despite evacuation efforts, underscoring a need for additional government assistance for those with mobility issues.
Liu, speaking at a Legislative meeting, acknowledged the need for improved communication and household registration during evacuations. She suggested that refined registration could help track residents and identify those needing assistance. Lee proposed a dedicated agency like FEMA in the U.S. to manage disaster prevention, noting that jurisdiction over Matai’an Creek involves multiple agencies, complicating disaster response.
Lee also suggested relocating entire villages due to unstable slopes, emphasizing the need to preserve cultural and social structures. Raway Huiciang, assisting in the cleanup, highlighted the Amis’ collective approach to problem-solving and advocated for housing solutions that maintain community integrity. The Taiwan Indigenous Baseball Development Association noted the cultural loss from the destruction, which has deeply affected the community and its contributions to Taiwanese baseball.
