As per reports, a yellow alert has been issued for a barrier lake in the upper reaches of the Wanli River in Hualien County on Thursday (25 June) at 0800 hours (local time) due to rainfall associated with Severe Tropical Storm Mekkhala. Evacuations have been ordered for residents in Fenglin and Wanrong townships.

Following are the details:

• The Hualien branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency issued the alert after the Central Weather Administration projected more than 70 millimetres of accumulated rainfall in Hualien County over the next 48 hours. This projected rainfall exceeds the 54 millimetres threshold required to trigger a yellow alert.
• The barrier lake contains approximately 780,000 cubic metres of water, and its water level has reached 1,049 metres, close to the maximum capacity of 1,080 metres.
• In Wanrong Township, an evacuation is scheduled at 1700 hours (local time) for an estimated 92 residents from 23 households across seven areas. Evacuation shelters have been established at Mingli Elementary School and the Mingli Village Activity Centre.
• In Fenglin Township, evacuations commenced at 1330 hours (local time) for 116 residents from 49 households, with military personnel mobilised to assist. Shelters have been set up at Zhongshan Hall in the Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park and the Fenglin Lohas Centre. Emergency supplies were dispatched on Thursday (25 June) morning.
• The barrier lake is located approximately 30 kilometres upstream from the Wanli River Bridge. The Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park closed at 1200 hours (local time) on Thursday (25 June) pending safety assessments.