The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) conducted a two-day field survey of the Hualien earthquake disaster area and a joint research planning workshop in Taiwan from January 21 to 23, 2026, in collaboration with the National Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) in Taiwan, with which it has a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC). Eight participants from NIED attended, including Deputy Director Shohei Matsuura of the Planning Department, and Drs. Tabata, Fujiwara, and Nishi from the Hyogo Earthquake Engineering Research Center.
On January 21st and 22nd, investigations were conducted in areas affected by the Hualien earthquake that occurred on April 3, 2024. Sites visited included landslide disaster areas in Taroko Gorge, where the main east-west highway runs parallel, and the lower reaches of the Matai’an River basin, which suffered damage from debris flows triggered by a 2025 typhoon that breached an earthquake-induced river channel blockage. Massive debris flows from steep slopes caused extensive damage to roads and villages. Nearly two years after the earthquake, severe impacts persist. Recovery efforts, such as debris removal, continue, along with ongoing measures to address the collapse risk of multiple dammed lakes blocking river channels. Furthermore, through conversations with disaster victims and emergency response personnel, it became a valuable opportunity to recognize once again how critical swift decision-making immediately after a disaster is in determining subsequent evacuation actions.
On the following day, the 23rd, a workshop was held at the NCDR headquarters in New Taipei City. Eleven researchers from the NCDR participated, exchanging views in three groups: “Weather-related Disasters and Landslides,” “Urban Disasters,” and “Social Disaster Prevention.” Each group engaged in concrete and lively discussions regarding research topics that the Disaster Prevention Research Institute and the NCDR should collaborate on in the future.

Meanwhile, with the Lunar New Year approaching the following month, the local streets were bustling with preparations for the festive celebrations.