Hualien: The Hualien District Prosecutors Office has indicted Guangfu Township chief Lin Ching-shui on charges of causing a catastrophe through dereliction of duty and negligent manslaughter following last year's breach of the Matai'an Creek barrier lake, which resulted in 19 fatalities. Lin is also facing charges for falsifying evacuation numbers during the disaster on September 23, 2025. Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison sentence, citing his denial of responsibility and lack of remorse.
According to Focus Taiwan, the township office's secretary, surnamed Chang, and civil affairs section head, surnamed Wang, were also indicted on similar charges, with prosecutors pursuing nine-year sentences for both. Investigations into the potential criminal liability of other officials within the Hualien County and central governments are ongoing.
Prosecutors stated that the Ministry of Agriculture had determined on September 19 that several wards in Fenglin and Guangfu townships were at risk due to the impending overflow of the Matai'an Creek barrier lake as a typhoon approached Taiwan. On September 21, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency issued a yellow alert, recommending preventive evacuations in designated risk areas.
Despite these warnings, Lin underestimated the potential disaster, opting to visit Yilan County and assigning Chang to attend a virtual meeting with the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) in his place. Upon returning to Guangfu, Lin failed to take charge of disaster response operations, instead hosting a dinner for army rescue personnel with Chang.
On September 22, at 7 a.m., the Hualien branch of the forestry agency issued a red alert for immediate mandatory evacuation. However, Lin, Chang, and Wang allowed a scheduled civil defense unit training session to proceed, despite knowing that door-to-door evacuations and traffic restrictions should have been enforced.
Following the training session, Lin instructed only the ward chiefs present to attend a meeting, neglecting to notify other chiefs in affected areas. Lin then ordered mandatory evacuations in only a few areas, advising residents elsewhere to seek higher ground or stay with relatives. He also failed to coordinate with police to clear danger zones, allowing residents and vehicles to continue moving through the area.
Prosecutors reported that Chang, who attended the emergency operations meeting, was aware of the potential severity but did not advocate for stronger evacuation measures. Additionally, they allege that Lin left his post for a dental implant in Fenglin during the emergency, disregarding residents' safety.
To conceal their negligence and respond to oversight from county and central authorities, the officials allegedly falsified evacuation figures in the emergency information system without verifying the actual population in affected areas.