TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Work is ongoing in Taroko National Park to ensure  safe drainage of the newly formed barrier lake. 

On Friday, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency in Hualien announced that the lake is draining steadily and the structure of the landslide dam is stable, reported CNA. There is some seepage beneath the dam’s surface, but the threat to communities downstream has been lowered.

Work to begin safely removing the dam began on Thursday. On Friday, a new work group arrived that began leveling the top of the dam in order to create a channel to safely divert water and incrementally weaken the dam.

If the diversion channel is ineffective, excavators will be used to reduce the height of the dam layer by layer.

As of Friday, the volume of the lake was estimated to have lowered to approximately 1.9 million tonnes from the 2.7 million tonnes measured last week. The surface of the lake was also 3.3 meters below the top of the natural dam.

Water continues to overflow through the Jinheng Tunnel on Provincial Highway No. 8, creating a cascade effect over the Ludan Bridge. Public access to roads in the area is still restricted. 

Despite the lowered risk, the public should remain aware of the potential threat amid ongoing work to safely drain the barrier lake.