Taiwan Landslide Lake Overflow Delayed to Jan. 20; Authorities Allow Brief Returns for Livestock Feeding

The overflow of the Wanli River landslide lake in Taiwan has been postponed, with the latest estimate placing it at midnight on January 20. The natural dam body is showing increased seepage, and water flow has intensified, causing concern among officials despite a decrease in rainfall in the catchment area.

Despite exceeding the warning water level by 52 centimeters, the overflow is delayed due to multiple seepage points and loose soil on the dam. Officials are maintaining a red alert, but the estimated overflow time has been pushed back, causing frustration for residents in shelters. Some residents have requested permission to return home briefly to feed their livestock, a request that has been cautiously approved by authorities who emphasize safety.

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People need to eat, animals need to eat too! We can't ignore them. Just pay attention to safety!

Engineers are monitoring the situation closely. While the dam body's internal structure is not yet showing signs of damage, surface erosion is evident. The increased seepage is causing a slow rise in water levels. There is a risk of internal erosion, which could lead to pipe jacking and damage to the dam's weaker sections. The potential for collapse remains uncertain and depends on rainfall, inflow, and the dam's material composition.

The potential flood volume is expected to remain within the river channel downstream. However, the right bank's unstable slopes could continue to shed debris, repeatedly blocking the overflow outlet. The time to failure could range from hours to days. Authorities are continuing to monitor water levels closely, with the current projection for overflow at midnight on January 20.

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OK. Just pay attention to safety.