Mingli Village in eastern Taiwan has been inundated with floodwaters after the same river that overflowed in September with deadly consequences burst its banks again. That's as Tropical Storm Fung Wong approaches, bringing heavy rain to areas across the country.
00:00As John just mentioned, in Hualien County, rains from the storm have caused the same river that overflowed a few months ago with deadly consequences to burst its banks again.
00:10The indigenous Mingli village has seen the worst damage.
00:13Our reporter Irene Lin joins us live from Mingli.
00:16Irene, what's the situation there?
00:21Yes, Jeremy, you can see behind me that the water is still rising and rushing down into the low-lying areas of town.
00:27And from a breach in the embankment that's less than a kilometer away from here.
00:36Now, the village chief said he had warned the central government about the risk of breach over there, but was told that it was safe because the area sits on higher ground.
00:45Now, he said that the breach happened because the mud from a Berry Lake breach in September raised the riverbed, causing the water to spill over into the Mingli village on the north bank where I'm standing.
00:56Now, earlier today, we came across a local resident who was rescued after being stuck in mud on one of the Ming roads in Wanrong Township.
01:04Here's what he said.
01:05Now, that was just in front of the Wanrong Junior High School.
01:29The street there is now still flooded and is now closed for all access.
01:36So, Irene, what's the condition of the roads leading into Mingli village?
01:43Yes, well, the water started has been flooding the village streets since Monday night.
01:47It temporarily receded during the day on Tuesday, but rose quickly again last night and this time much worse.
01:54It first flooded the community center down there behind me and last night it cut off another road leading to the village.
02:05Now, we were guided here by the village chief's son and here's what he told us.
02:09Yes, Mona Masao, who you just heard from.
02:14Yes, Mona Masao, who you just heard from, told me that all residents have been evacuated.
02:42Some to two local schools outside of the indigenous village and some to a local church that's over here on higher ground.
02:49And they're considering moving everyone to the church so that they can stay close to their home.
02:55Thanks, Irene.
02:56That was Irene Lin live from Mingli village in eastern Taiwan.
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