TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A newly formed barrier lake on Hualien County’s Mataian Creek overflowed at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, raising water levels and flooding a temporary access road along Provincial Highway 9, per CNA.

The overflow caused the creek’s level to rise by about 70 centimeters. Within an hour, floodwaters submerged the access road, knocked over guardrails, and rendered it impassable. By 10:45 p.m., water had begun to recede below the road surface.

The Highway Bureau’s Eastern District Branch said Wednesday morning it inspected the site and confirmed a 2-meter culvert beneath the north–south access road remained intact. However, the upstream southbound access road was clogged with mud and driftwood, prompting the deployment of heavy machinery to clear debris.

Crews are removing silt and reinforcing safety barriers, with completion expected by noon Wednesday. Traffic will reopen once engineers verify the roadbed is stable and safe, the bureau said.

The flooding forced many vehicles to divert to County Road 193, where traffic backed up for roughly 1 kilometer along narrow sections.

The Highway Bureau advised drivers traveling between Hualien and Taitung to use alternate routes, such as connecting to Provincial Highway 11 via the Hualien Bridge. Officials said further safety reinforcements may be required and that updated traffic announcements will be issued once the situation stabilizes.