This paper presents the sequence, failure mechanism and remedial measures of a piping failure occurring during a deep excavation at a harbor in southern Taiwan. The piping failure occurred after a 13.75 m deep excavation had been completed and after 5 days heavy raining. The causes of the pipping failure could be associated with the presence of a thin clay blanket below the bottom of excavation, together with the rising of groundwater table due to waves and heavy rains brought by a typhoon. After the incident, the remedial measures taken included instrumentation, groundwater pumping as well as grouting to fill cavities and to stabilize disturbed soils.