14 dead and 124 missing after Matai’an River’s barrier lake overflows
Heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ragasa caused the barrier lake at the Matai’an River’s landslide dam to overflow Tuesday afternoon. Cabinet Secretary-General Chang Tun-han (張惇涵) said Wednesday that 14 people are confirmed dead and 124 are still missing.
Per Chang, communications and power have largely been restored in the disaster-stricken areas. Deputy Economic Minister Lai Chien-hsin (賴建信), who has expertise in water conservancy, has been dispatched to Hualien to coordinate efforts to integrate resources from the central and local government as well as the military. The Hualien County Government stated that they urgently need essential supplies and support from all sectors.
Nearly 4,900 reserve troops are on standby, working alongside police, firefighters, and search and rescue teams to check each residence one by one. Although the floodwaters have receded, significant silt and sediment have accumulated, blocking roads and requiring a large-scale cleanup effort.
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