Typhoon Bavi leaves at least 135 injured; barrier lake alert lowered

Taipei, July 12 (CNA) Typhoon Bavi left at least 135 people injured across Taiwan before moving away from the island, while the typhoon command center lowered the alert level for a barrier lake on Hualien County's Wanli River on Sunday.

The Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) said 3,163 disaster incidents had been reported nationwide as of 2 p.m., with fallen trees accounting for the largest share at 1,426 cases, followed by 828 cases involving public facilities and infrastructure.

Seven of the 135 injured were foreign nationals, the CEOC said.

Meanwhile, 15,228 people were evacuated across 14 cities and counties, with 762 people remaining in 38 shelters in six cities and counties as of Sunday afternoon, the CEOC said.

The CEOC said inflows into the barrier lake had declined, which will delay the expected overflow of the natural dam, and it lowered the alert level from red to yellow at 4 p.m.

A red alert indicates an imminent overflow requiring the highest level of preparedness, while a yellow alert means the immediate risk has eased but monitoring and access controls remain in place.

The barrier lake's condition has remained an issue of major concern given that an overflow of another barrier lake in September 2025 on nearby Matai'an Creek left at least 19 people dead and 157 injured in Hualien County's Guangfu Township.

A total of 249,114 households experienced power outages during the typhoon, with service restored to all but 2,644 households as of Sunday afternoon.

Taiwan Railway Corp. said service on its train network around Taiwan had returned to normal.

The Alishan Forest Railway's main line between Chiayi and Alishan, however, will remain suspended Monday after the typhoon triggered six landslides and fallen trees along the route.

The line had been suspended as a precaution since Friday, and the railway operator said services will resume only after debris has been cleared and the track inspected.