Typhoon Bawei Triggers Heavy Rains, Pushing Taiwan's Keelung River Diversion Tunnel Near Warning Level

Typhoon Bawei has unleashed torrential rains upon the upper Keelung River basin in Taiwan, pushing the water level in the critical Yuanshanzi Flood Diversion Tunnel dangerously close to its warning threshold. This development raises concerns about potential flooding in downstream urban areas.

The Yuanshanzi Flood Diversion Tunnel, a vital flood control facility located in Ruifang District, is engineered to prevent catastrophic flooding. It operates by allowing excess water from the upper river to naturally overflow into the diversion weir. This water is then channeled through a tunnel that runs beneath the western foothills of Keelung Mountain, discharging directly into the East China Sea.

This sophisticated system is designed to intercept and redirect a significant portion of floodwaters. The tunnel has the capacity to divert up to 80% of the floodwater originating from the upper Keelung River. By doing so, it effectively reduces the volume of water flowing downstream, thereby mitigating the risk of severe inundation in densely populated areas such as Xizhi District in New Taipei City and Neihu District in Taipei City.

The primary objective of the Yuanshanzi diversion is to safeguard the lives and property of the approximately 8 million residents in the greater Taipei metropolitan area. As the water level approaches the warning line, authorities are closely monitoring the situation, prepared to activate the diversion system to prevent the river from breaching its banks and causing widespread damage.