Hualien: The Hualien District Court has released Guangfu Township chief Lin Ching-shui on NT$1 million (US$31,422) bail, under the condition that he wears an electronic monitoring device. This decision came late on Monday night after Lin and two other township officials were indicted for their alleged failure to evacuate residents before the breach of the Matai'an Creek barrier lake on September 23, 2025.

According to Focus Taiwan, the floodwaters resulting from the breach led to the unfortunate deaths of 19 people, with five others still missing. The Hualien District Prosecutors Office has charged Lin and the other officials with causing a catastrophe through dereliction of duty, negligent manslaughter, and falsification of evacuation figures. Prosecutors are advocating for a 10-year prison sentence for Lin, emphasizing his denial of responsibility and apparent lack of remorse.

Prosecutors allege that Lin did not adequately manage emergency response operations despite warnings of an impending disaster. Notably, they claim that Lin left his post to receive a dental implant in neighboring Fenglin Township, even after a red alert advising mandatory evacuation was issued. Additionally, it is alleged that Lin and the other officials falsified evacuation figures in their reports to Hualien County and central government authorities. Lin purportedly stated that preventive evacuations were completed when, in reality, residents remained in danger zones.

Lin has been detained since January 15 due to concerns that he might collude with accomplices or witnesses or attempt to flee.