Hualien evacuates over 900 residents amid Typhoon Bavi threat

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Local authorities in Hualien County evacuated over 900 residents on Thursday as Typhoon Bavi approached Taiwan, triggering a "yellow alert" for two landslide dams on Wanli Creek and Matai'an Creek.

The Hualien branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency issued the alert at 4 p.m. after a sea warning was issued for the typhoon, citing the risk of landslides and debris flows near the two creeks.

The 900 residents from 358 households were evacuated as Fonglin and Wanrung township offices launched precautionary evacuations.

In Guangfu Township, vulnerable residents and people with limited mobility were also evacuated, according to local authorities.

As the typhoon is expected to bring torrential rain, the areas face multiple hazards, including possible overflow from Matai'an Creek, the Wanli Creek landslide dam, and the threat of debris flows.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the Wanli Creek landslide dam holds 3.61 million cubic meters of water -- 70 percent capacity -- at an elevation of approximately 1,076 meters, with a total storage potential of 5.1 million cubic meters, according to monitoring data from the Hualien branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency.

The Wanli Creek watershed could become full if cumulative rainfall reaches 100-200 millimeters, said Huang Chun-tse (黃群策), director of the agency's Hualien branch.

If the water level reaches capacity, overflow could occur in about one hour, although the actual timing would depend on rainfall conditions and cannot be accurately predicted, Huang added.

The Matai'an Creek landslide dam area currently holds little water, but about 240 million cubic meters of sediment remain, posing risks of a new dam forming and large-scale sediment movement downstream, the agency said.

Meanwhile, Taroko National Park Headquarters closed park trails, ecological conservation areas and restricted zones on Thursday in response to the sea warning issued for Typhoon Bavi.