Matai’an Creek overflows again as Tropical Storm Fung-Wong batters Hualien County
Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Fung-Wong caused Matai’an Creek to overflow into Mingli Village in Wanrong Township, Hualien County, on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 11 and 12, 2025, flooding homes and farmland as local authorities considered expanding precautionary evacuations.
Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Fung-Wong has inundated parts of eastern Taiwan, particularly Hualien County, where the Matai’an Creek overflowed its banks and flooded Mingli Village in Wanrong Township.
The creek overflowed between Tuesday and Wednesday, as the storm approached the island’s east coast, bringing intense rainfall and strong gusts.
According to Mingli Village Chief Lin Wan-cheng, water flow on Wednesday morning was at least ten times stronger than the day before, spreading across a wider area of the village. Local officials reported that the floodwaters affected over 100 ha (247 acres) of land, including residential areas and farmland, with at least 58 residents temporarily evacuated.
The Wanrong Township Office stated that it had not ruled out expanding the scope of precautionary evacuations as rainfall persisted and water levels in the creek remained elevated. Emergency teams were deployed to monitor the flow and assist in moving residents to safer locations.
The Creek has also overflowed in September, when it left at least 14 dead, after flooding the Guangfu Township and nearby areas.
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong, downgraded from a typhoon earlier in the week, has brought heavy rainfall and strong winds across much of Taiwan. The Central Weather Administration issued warnings for flash floods and landslides in mountainous and coastal areas, particularly along the island’s eastern flank.
Nationwide, more than 8 300 people were evacuated ahead of the storm’s landfall, according to Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Center. Authorities reported at least 51 injuries and hundreds of incidents related to the storm, including flooding, downed trees, and power outages.
Meteorologists forecast that the storm’s center would continue moving northwest, with the heaviest precipitation expected to taper off late Wednesday as the system moves toward the East China Sea.
However, saturated ground conditions and swollen rivers are expected to increase the risk of secondary flooding and landslides through the following day.
Image credit: CNA Focus Taiwan
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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