Hualien remains on red alert as barrier lake holds

By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA Add TT as Preferred Source A barrier lake in Hualien’s Wanli River (萬里溪) is expected to overflow, although it was holding up better than expected, the authorities said yesterday.The Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) on Thursday afternoon declared a red alert in Fenglin (鳳林) and Wanrong (萬榮) townships, and evacuated residents, after waters in the barrier lake reached dangerous levels.The barrier lake contained 5.11 million cubic meters of water as of 4pm yesterday. An aerial view shows a barrier lake in the upper reaches of the Wanli River in Hualien County yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency It was expected to burst yesterday, but officials said the embankment was holding up better than expected.The sit