Hualien: The Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) on Wednesday announced that the red alert for the Matai'an Creek barrier lake in Hualien County, which formed in July, has been lifted, with alert and monitoring returned to normal. CEOC chief coordinator Chi Lien-cheng told a press conference that with the water level stable in the lake, dredging operations in the river ongoing, the temporary embankment strengthened, evacuation plans drafted and drills conducted, the criteria for lifting the alert have been met. Recovery for Hualien towns affected by the severe flooding following the overflow and collapse of the barrier lake on Sept. 23 may take three to five years, he added.

According to Focus Taiwan, a new barrier lake that formed on the same creek on Tuesday overflowed at around 8:30 p.m., immersing the temporary bypass bridge to Hualien's Guangfu Township before 10 p.m. As of about 10:45 p.m., the water had receded below the bridge. Currently, downstream overflows are stable with no immediate risks of the barrier lake collapsing, according to the CEOC.

Two-way traffic was reopened on the bypass bridge at Wednesday noon with a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour. Tractor-full trailers are not allowed on the bridge. The bridge was built along Provincial Highway No. 9 and opened on Oct. 10 to restore access to Guangfu, after it was cut off when flood water destroyed Matai'an Creek Bridge on Sept. 23.