Taiwan's Taroko National Park Experiences Renewed Landslides After Earthquakes

Seismic activity causes further rockfalls in the Swallow's Entrance area, impacting a newly formed landslide-induced lake.

Recent seismic activity has caused further landslides in the Swallow's Entrance area of Taiwan's Taroko National Park. This follows a period of significant rockfall that led to the formation of a new landslide-induced lake in the Liwu River.

Early this morning, a substantial volume of water from this lake overflowed from the eastern entrance of the Jinheng Tunnel on Provincial Highway 8. The water has since stabilized and is flowing back into the main channel of the Liwu River.

However, at approximately 10:00 AM, two earthquakes, measuring magnitude 5.3 and 4.1 respectively, struck the region. These tremors resulted in additional, smaller landslides occurring at Swallow's Entrance.

Images show that the trails, already heavily impacted by previous debris, experienced further collapses following the earthquakes. Currently, three excavators are working to clear a temporary access road along the old Provincial Highway 8, aiming to reach the landslide dam to begin excavation and reduce the water level.

The situation with the landslide-induced lake remains dynamic. By midday, the "waterfall" effect observed at the Ludan Bridge guardrail had visibly increased in volume compared to the morning. The magnitude 5.3 earthquake earlier in the day caused further loosening of soil and rock in the Taroko area, leading to small rockfalls.

The Central Weather Administration forecasts continued rainfall in the mountainous regions over the next two days. Local authorities are strongly urging the public to refrain from entering the Taroko National Park or any restricted areas to avoid potential dangers.