Heavy rains in southern Hualien wash away temporary bridges, one missing

Torrential rains in southern Hualien County, Taiwan, have wreaked havoc, leading to the destruction of crucial temporary bridges and causing a security guard to go missing. The downpours, fueled by the outer bands of Tropical Depression TD24, inundated areas including Fuli Township and Yuli Township, with some locations recording over 300 millimeters of rain in a single day.

The temporary access road for the Lun Tian Bridge in Fuli Township and the Yu Chang Bridge in Yuli Township were both washed away by the surging floodwaters. The Fuli Township office has reported the damage to the Hualien County Government to coordinate repair efforts. The Mingli Bridge's steel temporary road is scheduled for assessment and potential opening on Tuesday, depending on water levels.

The Yu Chang Bridge, which spans the Xiuguluan River, was damaged during the September 18 earthquake in 2022. A temporary road was constructed to facilitate public passage. On Monday, this temporary road was swept away. Tragically, a security guard named Huang was reportedly swept away with his motorcycle while attempting to cross the bridge on his way to work at the Changliang Garden campus of Yu Li Veterans Hospital. Rescue efforts are underway along the Lele and Xiuguluan rivers, but the strong currents are hindering the search.

In Fuli Township, the temporary road at Lun Tian Bridge suffered extensive damage to its roadbed and surface due to the swollen river and powerful currents, rendering it impassable. Authorities have cordoned off the area and are enforcing a complete closure. The township mayor, Jiang Dongcheng, emphasized the ongoing risk of flash floods and urged residents to avoid the closed areas and refrain from attempting to cross waterways.

Further complicating the situation, a landslide occurred on the road to Sixty Stone Mountain, temporarily blocking traffic before emergency repairs were completed. However, scattered rockfalls persist, indicating ongoing risks on mountain roads. In Luoshan Village, a slope excavation site on County Highway 79 experienced soil and rock movement due to the continuous rain. Fuli Township officials are maintaining heightened patrols and adjusting traffic control measures based on weather and water conditions.

“

The public works team will continue to strengthen patrols of roads, temporary bridges, and all areas prone to disasters within the township, and will dynamically adjust road closures, traffic controls, and related disaster prevention and response measures based on rainfall, water levels, and on-site conditions.