The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Hualien Branch says there are
now concerns that a newly formed barrier lake could begin overflowing in 10
to 20 days.

Authorities are now identifying households in at-risk areas and urging
residents to evacuate before the designated deadline.

The warning comes after the agency discovered the new barrier lake on Sunday.

It's located upstream of Wanli River and some 7-kilometers north of where the
Matai'an barrier lake burst in September of last year.

Aerial surveys found that the area of the landslide that created the barrier
lake covered about 45-hectares and rockfalls were continuing in the area.

Minister Without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng says barrier lake is located about
20-kilometers upstream from Wanrong Township at an elevation of roughly 1,000
meters and has an estimated capacity is 6-million cubic meters of water ..

.. and if a breach were to occur, Mingli Village in Wanrong Township would be
the first area affected.

According to Chi, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has established
a response task force to assess the situation and it will travel to the area
next week to provide guidance on disaster preparedness efforts.