TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Government officials on Sunday assessed damage in Miaoli County after heavy rains caused the Shahe River in Touwu Township to overflow, flooding nearby homes.
Two days of rainfall led water levels in the river to exceed its banks by nearly two meters, flooding roads and residences, with Qudong Village among the most affected areas, per CNA.
Residents and local officials blamed the flooding in part on inadequate riverbed dredging. Qudong Village Chief Liu Anhua (劉安華) said past efforts focused on preserving the habitat of endangered fish, clearing only the center of the river channel and failing to remove debris and overgrowth along the banks.
“We must protect the habitat, but even more importantly, we must protect human safety,” Liu said, warning that without proper remediation, future flooding could occur.
The area is home to the endangered ray-finned fish Squalidus iijimae, named after Japanese zoologist Iijima Isao.
Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin (鍾東錦), KMT Legislator Chiu Cheng-chun (邱鎮軍), and Touwu Township Mayor Hsu Hsin-jung (徐鑫榮), along with representatives from the Water Resources Agency, inspected the affected areas.
Chung said the county had coordinated with the fire department, the township office’s cleaning teams, and other agencies to mobilize personnel and equipment to clear mud from homes and roads, aiming to help residents return to normal life as soon as possible.
The receding waters left behind mud-covered homes and roads, with watermarks reaching up to two meters high. A resident surnamed Liang (梁) described the ordeal as terrifying. “Water rushed in from all directions,” she said.
Liang said she had been asleep around 7 a.m. when her brother discovered water flooding their home and woke the family. Within about 15 minutes, the water rose to nearly two meters, forcing them up to the second floor as doors and windows on the first floor shattered.
She said nearly all the vehicles in her yard were submerged, while the first-floor appliances, furniture, antiques, and paintings were destroyed. “It's a total loss,” she said, adding that a slower response could have cost lives.
According to Wang Wei (王瑋), deputy director of the Water Resources Agency’s Second River Management Office, the Shahe River is a tributary of the Houlong River, with flood control capacity designed for a once-in-25-year, 24-hour rainfall event.
He said Saturday’s rainfall exceeded a once-in-100-year level, overwhelming the system’s design capacity. In addition, bamboo and vegetation blocked the Qudong Bridge, preventing proper drainage and contributing to the flooding.
Wang added that sections of the river between Gongqian Bridge and Wenying Bridge had already undergone remediation, with tall vegetation removed in 2025 to maintain flood control capacity. Such measures will continue as needed, he said.
