Taiwan Disaster Center Detects 8.1-Meter Wave, Warns 5 Counties of Flooding Risk

Taiwan's National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) has detected an 8.1-meter giant wave and issued alerts for potential flooding in coastal areas across five counties and nine townships as Typhoon Barway approaches. The center reported this information to President Lai Ching-te on July 10, 2026.

Typhoon Barway is forecast to significantly affect Taiwan on July 11 and 12. Northern Taiwan, including Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Yilan, and the outlying islands, can expect strong gusts of level 12 or higher. The NCDR recorded the massive 8.1-meter wave in the southeastern sea area. Coastal regions in the east, north, Hengchun Peninsula, and Matsu are advised to be cautious of long waves, and drivers on coastal roads should exercise safety precautions.

Low-lying coastal areas in eastern and northeastern Taiwan are at risk of seawater intrusion and localized flooding during high tide, which is expected between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. today. The flood alert covers coastal, estuary, and flood-prone areas in Yilan, Taipei, New Taipei, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County. The NCDR is also monitoring reservoir water levels, which range from nearly 70% to 99.6% capacity, and will issue warnings for regulated water releases via the cell broadcast platform.

Areas prone to landslides span 13 counties and 57 townships, with only mountainous regions in Changhua, Pingtung, and Taitung counties excluded from the warning. Twenty-five specific roads are identified as high-risk. Additionally, a magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred near the Wanli River landslide dam in Hualien late on July 8, prompting concerns for downstream areas like Wanrong and Fenglin townships. The NCDR has sent out 13 cell broadcast alert messages so far, including six for landslide dams, six for reservoir releases, and four for giant waves, reaching hundreds of thousands of people.