Crisis Management for a Conflict with North Korea

Focus Taiwan | English | News | Oct. 16, 2025 | Extreme Weather Events

Authorities in Hualien County plan to evacuate approximately 8,600 residents from areas affected by the overflow of the Matai'an barrier lake last month. This mandatory evacuation is scheduled for October 19 or 20 and aims to serve as a precautionary measure against an approaching tropical storm.

The evacuation will be conducted in three phases across Guangfu, Fenglin, and Wanrong townships, with 10 shelters prepared for displaced residents. Emergency resources, including police, firefighters, soldiers, and 10 medium-sized buses, will be stationed near the Guangfu Sugar Factory, which will act as an emergency coordination hub. All heavy machinery involved in post-flood cleanup must report evacuation routes beforehand, and broadcasting systems will be restored by Thursday to ensure timely alerts.

This operation will act as a practical "pressure test" for emergency teams and help refine disaster-response procedures. A coordination meeting with local officials and village heads is planned for Wednesday afternoon to finalize preparations.

The evacuation plan comes in response to the late September collapse of the Matai'an barrier lake, which caused casualties and widespread flooding. Following this event, the CEOC revised its evacuation protocols, discontinuing the "vertical evacuation" method due to difficulties in enforcement and practicality identified by local authorities.