An overall review of the rainfall threshold values due to the occurrence of strong earthquakes - Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, MOA

Since a strong earthquake jolted Ren-ai Township of Nantou County on 2 June, rock and soil in the central mountanins broke loose. The raining season is coming, the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau (SWCB) of the Council of Agriculture has reviewed the rainfall threshold values for debris flow warnings. Using images taken by the satellite Formosat-2 satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles to observe and evaluate the landslides in mountanins, SWCB has altered the rainfall threshold values where and earthquake magnitude 5 and above occurred.

An overall review of the rainfall threshold values due to the occurrence of strong earthquakes

The earthquake measured 6.3 on the Richter scale,” SWCB expressed, “In many areas, the earthquake measured 5 and above, like Caoling and Gukeng in Yunlin, Sun Moon Lake, Puli and Mingjian in Nantou, Ershui in Changhua and Ali Mountain in Chiayi. It has been in the raining season in Taiwan, the typhoon season, debris flow disasters may occur by heavy rainfalls.”

Earthquakes caused loose earth on a steep slope, the heavy rainfalls triggered landslides, which might cause debris flow disasters. Therefore, we have to review and modify the rainfall threshold values where an earthquake measuring 5 and above occurred.”

SWCB Public Feedback Services APP needs your participation

Starting this year, SWCB Public Feedback Services APP is available for download. When typhoons and heavy rainfalls occur, inpiduals can use a camera phone with built-in GPS to take photos and upload them in SWCB’s website or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/246.swcb). Meanwhile, people having rain gauges can measure the precipitation and post on the websites mentioned above. The information you provide will help SWCB to know more about disaster situations.

SWCB continues collaborating with the Central Weather Bureau in the need of closely precipitation monitoring and issuance of landslide warnings timely. SWCB reminds residents living in mountainous areas must stay alert and know evacuation routes well. Emergency call: 0800-246-246.

Released by: Soil and Water Conservation Bureau

Contact person: Lee Zhen Yang, SWCB Deputy Director General

Contact phone number: 049-2394203

Contact email: ea10401@mail.swcb.gov.tw