Small Matai’an Creek barrier lake may overflow soon

A small barrier lake has formed on Hualien County's Matai'an Creek, holding an estimated 100,000 tons of water, and is expected to overflow within 24 hours, local authorities said Tuesday at noon. The new lake has a capacity of about 600,000 tons -- significantly smaller than the main Matai'an Creek barrier lake located roughly a kilometer upstream, whose overflow last month claimed 19 lives. As a precaution, the county government has ordered all machinery and personnel to evacuate the river area immediately.