TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan forestry officials warned Thursday (Oct. 9) of dangerous instability at Matian'an Landslide Lake after rescue teams discovered continuous ground deformation and new fissures throughout the watershed. The Hualien Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (林業及自然保育署花蓮分署), Taiwan's regional forestry authority, deployed specialized task forces to assess the deteriorating conditions threatening the mountainous region.
Officials strongly cautioned against any excavation or blasting operations, warning that hasty construction activities could trigger catastrophic landslides across the unstable terrain. The agency emphasized that exploration findings will guide expert assessments and inform comprehensive disaster prevention strategies for the vulnerable region.
The forestry branch collaborated with the Eastern Region Search and Rescue Committee of the Taiwan Mountain Rescue Association (中華民國山難救助協會東區搜救委員會), Taiwan's volunteer mountain rescue organization, to deploy two specialized teams. Teams accessed the remote lake area via Wanrong (萬榮林道) and Guangfu Forest Roads (光復林道) on Oct. 2 and Sept. 30, respectively, to evaluate upstream and downstream terrain changes.
The Wanrong team, equipped with ropes, machetes, and pickaxes, traversed challenging terrain along the historic Lintianshan Railway (林田山鐵道). Using advanced aerial surveys, lidar technology, and photographic mapping, they documented alarming landslide and water system changes. By day four, investigators observed severe erosion at the dam and spillway, revealing accelerated environmental deterioration.