Trip on foot to Matai’an barrier lake successful

Trip on foot to Matai’an barrier lake successful

2025-10-08

A team of nine from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency completed a trip entirely on foot to the barrier lake on the upper reaches of Matai’an Creek, which caused the fatal flash flood in Guangfu Township last month. Their journey began on Sept. 30, and it took them five days to reach the edge of the lake to carry out observation. Those who took part said it was an arduous journey, but necessary despite the treacherous conditions.

A bright blue body of water against a white backdrop. This may look like a tourist attraction, but it’s actually the spot where the Matai’an barrier lake overflowed and flooded Guangfu Township.

- Wow! Have we landed on the moon?
- We can sort of see the lake.
- It’s kind of Tiffany blue.
- We’re heading over there in just a second.

It’s a long trek to reach the barrier lake. The exploration team from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Hualien Branch had to take the journey entirely on foot in the mountains in order to reach the lake.

Huang Chun-tse
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
In order to monitor the barrier lake, we must have troops reach the destination in person. They need to possess specialized skills such as abseiling to do so. There are no paths and trails. They must brave the elements to reach it.

Lai Kuang-jung
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
The slope is really steep, and there are large areas of collapsed ground. The leg where we had to descend from the ridge was strenuous. The most unbearable part was when we reached the area with lots of dust.

The team headed out on Sept. 30 and took a whole five days to reach the lake, and only returned on Oct. 8. It’s already an arduous journey, and they also had to bear with the dust.

Tien Yu-lun
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
Sunlight couldn’t reach the place. It’s really like the end of the world. It’s also so difficult to breathe it felt like we couldn’t last ten minutes. After 20 minutes, we couldn’t wait to leave, but we must still reach the overflowing spot first.

Although it’s hard work that can only be done by few professionals, the barrier lake must continue to be monitored to prevent another tragedy.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#barrierlake #guangfu #hualien #flood #disastermitigation

挺進堰塞湖平安歸來特遣隊:風景雖美地形險惡

2025-10-08

為了掌握馬太鞍溪堰塞湖的狀況，林保署組成9人小隊，在上個月底開始徒步，深入堰塞湖探勘，終於在今天(10/8)完成監測，平安歸來。隊員們也分享探勘途中所見所聞，沿途樹木枯死、粉塵非常多，也沒有步道走，一路上相當顛簸，最後到了堰塞湖口，雖然漂亮，但極其危險。

眼前白茫茫一片，清澈湖水湛藍碧綠，彷彿置身仙境，但這裡可是釀成悲劇的馬太鞍堰塞湖溢流口。

- 哇我們來到了月球嗎
- 稍微看得到一點湖了
- 有點tiffany綠的感覺
- 等一下就要往那邊前進了

要抵達堰塞湖，可沒這麼容易，這支由林保署花蓮分署萬榮工作站，組成的探勘小組，為了掌握馬太鞍溪堰塞湖的狀況，他們只能在荒蕪的山路中，殺出一條生路。

[[林保署花蓮分署長黃群策]]
“想要對堰塞湖能夠做監測，我們必須還是要有地面部隊到達，必須要有特殊技能，要有垂降相關的技能，才有辦法到達。步道、路徑什麼都沒有，必須要披荊斬棘才能到達的地方。”

[[林保署花蓮分署萬榮工作站帶隊官賴光榮]]
“坡度很陡，那個很多崩塌地。要從稜線稍微下去的那個部分比較耗費體力。走到粉塵的時候，是最艱難的時候。”

深山特遣隊從9月30號出發前往堰塞湖，整整花了5天才抵達湖口，直到10月8號平安歸來，探勘行程除了要翻山越嶺，還得忍受一路上的粉塵。

[[萬榮工作站森林護管員田宇倫]]
“那個太陽是完全照不進來的，就像跟你們形容就像末日。只要10分鐘呼吸都沒有辦法，所以我們現場待了20分鐘的時候，就滿想趕快離開那邊，但是我們任務還要到溢流口。”

探勘堰塞湖，考驗特遣人員的體力、毅力與專業，只為了在下次災害來臨前，做足準備，守住最後一道防線。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Li is an artist, poet, and curator. He is regarded as a trailblazer among Chinese artists for adopting conceptual art, weaving together Eastern philosophical traditions with Western abstraction. Throughout his career, he studied in Taipei, and worked in Bologna, London, and Cumbria, where he transformed a farmhouse into an art space, holding a variety of exhibitions. The exhibition in Taipei features his works spanning from calligraphy, painting, low reliefs, interactive works, hand-tinted photographs, and archival materials.

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