WRA clarifies Mataian Creek embankment failure cause

The Water Resources Agency (WRA) clarified that the Mataian Creek embankment failure was caused by overflow exceeding the design flow, and not by pre-existing damage.

• Main announcement: The WRA states the affected section is the Mataian Creek right-bank Guangfu No.3 embankment, which was damaged during Typhoon Kong-Rey in year 113 and repaired by the Ninth River Branch in July year 114; the immediate failure during the recent event was due to overflow beyond design capacity, not prior defects. The Executive Yuan set up a Forward Coordination Office on Sep 24, and the Ministry of Agriculture formed a cross-ministry task force responsible for dam condition/risk assessment, engineering countermeasures, and evacuation planning.
• Operational details and timelines: WRA mobilized 152 heavy machines and 237 personnel, completed downstream flood-prevention measures (embankment raising, soil cover thickening, opening-seal blocking, pre-placed counterweights and mobile pumps), blocked overflow at Fozu Street by 18:00 to protect residents; repair schedule: first earth embankment line repaired within two weeks, strengthening by year-end, full embankment repair by end-April year 115. River dredging targets: 1,000,000 m³ by year-end, 3,000,000 m³ before next flood season, and 6,000,000 m³ by end of year 115.