Hualien battles dust storms following devastating Matai’an River floods
Hualien battles dust storms following devastating Matai’an River floods
2026-09-16
Massive flooding caused by the overflow of a barrier lake on the Matai’an River last year continues to impact Hualien County. The newly arrived northeast monsoon has whipped up riverbed silt into swirling dust storms, severely affecting residents’ quality of life and road visibility. In response, the Water Resources Agency is using a “water curtain” to suppress dust and is considering expanding the project, alongside planting lalang grass to keep the soil in place.
This otherwise clear road is enveloped in a haze of white fog, completely obscuring Hualien’s scenic mountains. Visibility is limited to only a few dozen meters.
It’s not just on land. Over on the river, swirls of dust float on the wind. Locals jokingly say there’s no need to wash your car. In conditions like this, it’ll get dirty again immediately.
Resident
Accepted the dust
There’s no way around it. It’s no different if you wash your car. The moment the winds pick up, it’ll get dirty again.
Mr. Kung
Resident
On a scooter, you can’t see anything in front of you. This has been happening for years now. It’s also dangerous in a car. You always have to turn on your brights.
These dust storms have persisted for a long time. Whenever the northeast monsoon arrives, the dust follows closely behind. Due to last year’s Mataian River flood, there’s more silt than usual in the riverbed. Air quality has further deteriorated this year, blowing inland as far as Yuli 80 kilometers to the south.
Wu Ming-hua
Water Resources Agency official
We’ll use the water curtain method to suppress airborne dust. Before the end of the year, we’ll finish the tender. If it works well, we’ll expand the system.
Water Resources Agency officials noted that whenever PM2.5 levels exceeded safety standards during previous heavy dust events, the water curtain would be activated to suppress dust using water sprays. Plans are currently underway to expand the system. They’re also working with local universities to plant lalang grass in the hopes of reducing fugitive dust.
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#duststorm #Hualien #Mataian #dust #roadconditions #WaterResourcesAgency #watercurtain #monsoon #airquality
馬太鞍溪洪災後遺症 花蓮溪沿岸"粉塵漫天飛舞"
2026-09-16
去年馬太鞍溪發生堰塞湖洪災，連帶影響花蓮溪沿岸今年粉塵特別多，加上東北季風報到，強勁風勢將河床沙塵吹起漫天飛舞，嚴重影響附近居民生活，以及駕駛視線。水利署為此設置"水幕系統"抑制揚塵，目前正考慮擴大辦理，另外種植白茅，減少塵土飛揚。
儘管道路還算清楚，但仔細看，眼前似乎有層白茫茫的霧，花蓮美麗的山景也完全看不到，能見度只有短短幾十公尺。
除了陸上慘兮兮，溪流匯集處更是沙塵滾滾，隨風亂飄，有當地居民開玩笑說，這樣的塵土量，車子根本不用洗，因為馬上就髒了。
[[民眾]]
“沒轍，你就算你洗好了一樣啊，東北季風就一起來就有了。”
[[民眾 龔先生]]
“騎摩托車的話，根本就沒有辦法看到前面的一個狀況啊，好多年前都是這樣子一個情形發生，那你開車的話，也是蠻危險的，都是要開霧燈什麼的。”
這樣的滾滾粉塵場景，其實已經持續很久了，只要東北季風一報到，粉塵就跟著來，因為去年馬太鞍溪溢流，花蓮溪床堆積大量粉塵，導致今年空氣品質更糟，一路往內陸吹，最遠甚至能帶到80公里外，南邊的玉里。
[[水利署第九河川分署長 吳明華]]
“我們會有一些就是一個水幕的一個方式，來抑制這些揚塵，年底之前我們會完成相關的發包的一個工作，成效良好的話，我們擴大來辦理。”
水利署官員說，以往遇到大量粉塵，只要PM2.5超過標準，就會啟動水幕系統，用灑水方式把塵土壓下，目前正在研擬擴大辦理。另外，他們也和大專院校合作，種植白茅，增加植被面積，減少粉塵被吹起的機會。
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