New barrier lake on Matai'an Creek 'to overflow within 24 hours'

Taipei, Oct. 21 (CNA) A small barrier lake has formed on Hualien County's Matai'an Creek and is expected to overflow within 24 hours, local authorities announced noon Tuesday.

According to the Hualien County Government, the new lake has a capacity of around 600,000 tons of water - far smaller than the main Matai'an Creek barrier lake around a kilometer upstream, whose overflow last month left 19 people dead.

As a precaution, the county government has ordered all machinery and personnel to leave the river area immediately.

A temporary access road near the Matai'an Creek Bridge on Provincial Highway No. 9 will also be closed if necessary, and drivers are advised to plan alternative routes in advance, the county added.