Cracks and Holes Reappear in Linluo Drain Embankment, Raising Fears of Another Breach

New cracks and holes have appeared in an embankment along Taiwan’s Linluo Drain, reviving residents’ fears that floodwater could trigger another breach.

The damaged section is at the Xinghuapu embankment, which has breached four times in five years. Residents in Wandan’s Xinghuapu area and nearby Xinyuan Township have repeatedly suffered flooding, keeping the embankment’s safety under close watch.

Residents discovered the latest damage on the inner slope on the 30th, after water levels dropped. They said the same area had shown seepage through the flood wall and embankment during the previous breach, suggesting that soil beneath the structure may have been washed away.

Pingtung County Councilor Hung Tsung-chi and township representative Chen Jushou went to the site after receiving the report. The weather service forecast continued heavy rain from the 31st, raising concern that the weakened embankment might not withstand renewed water pressure. Hung reported the problem to the county government’s Water Resources Department and called for emergency repairs and preventive measures.

A nearby resident said he had seen water seeping through holes and cracks in the flood wall during the earlier high-water event. Water also sprayed from a road inside the embankment, but the high river level made it impossible to assess the structure fully. After the water fell, the holes became visible. He urged the authorities to fill them quickly to prevent another breach.