Workers airlifted from Hualien barrier lake remediation
從花蓮堰塞湖修復現場空運的工人
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Workers involved in the dredging of a barrier lake on Hualien County's Mataian Creek were airlifted to safety on Monday after a landslide closed off their exit route, per CNA.
After 30 days in a deep valley, 14 workers were reunited with their families, some from Hualien and others from Chiayi, who greeted them upon their return. Workers were applauded for their work in a landslide-prone mountain valley, an effort that ultimately reduced flood risks to downstream communities. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency Hualien Branch said the crew lowered the water volume of the Mataian Creek barrier lake from 279,000 cubic meters to about 26,000 cubic meters. Huang Guo-bao (黃國寶), a heavy machinery supervisor on the project, praised the construction team for enduring harsh conditions, including food shortages, low temperatures, dense fog, and frequent rockfalls. Despite the risks, he said the team remained committed to completing the assignment. In an interview with the media, Huang said the most difficult aspect of the mission was navigating a 200-meter-long valley corridor prone to falling rocks, often while moving against strong currents. Heavy machinery was damaged, and some workers suffered minor injuries. Due to the site's remote location, the crew slept in tents under the constant threat of landslides. Huang said that cold mountain temperatures frequently forced work suspensions during rain or poor visibility. While abundant driftwood allowed the team to light fires for warmth, dense fog and heavy rainfall often grounded helicopters, disrupting supply deliveries. Although many workers were eager to accept the FANCA commission, some hesitated after learning the barrier lake was surrounded by unstable soil and rock, with slopes exceeding 200 meters in height. On the day of departure, the team found itself short three excavator operators and had to recruit replacements at the last minute. An Ting (安廷), an excavator operator from Mingli Village in Wanrong Township, stepped forward and later became the lead operator. Huang said An Ting carved a path through the valley, sometimes advancing just one meter at a time through silt as deep as three meters. Another worker, Cheng Cheng (成成), had the windshield of his vehicle shattered by falling rocks, suffering facial cuts from broken glass, but continued working. Youths from Indigenous tribes assisted with guard duty, watching for falling rocks and warning crews of danger. “It would be a lie to say I wasn’t afraid,” Huang said. Before the mission, he told Minister Without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng (季連成) that he was only 80% confident of success. While his team had prior disaster-response experience, including the 1999 921 earthquake, the 2016 Weiguan Jinlong building collapse in Tainan, and the removal of a barrier lake in Taroko Gorge last October, he said this mission proved the most difficult. Descending the mountain ultimately became even more hazardous than the ascent. Heavy rains caused access roads to collapse again, cutting off evacuation routes. Four excavators were buried and destroyed by soil and rocks, while five additional excavators and a supply truck remain stranded on the mountain. Huang expressed gratitude to FANCA’s Hualien Branch, Chi Lien-cheng, Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚), and others who supported the operation. “Life is a gift from God,” Huang said. “If there is a need next time, no matter how difficult or dangerous, I will still do it without hesitation.” |
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| Sean Scanlan Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2026-01-27 |
