A lake burst in Hualien County triggered massive flooding in Guangfu township on Tuesday, resulting in at least 14 deaths and 124 people still missing, according to Taiwan’s fire department.
Super Typhoon Ragasa has wreaked havoc in eastern Taiwan, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
A lake burst in Hualien County triggered massive flooding in Guangfu township on Tuesday, resulting in at least 14 deaths and 124 people still missing, according to Taiwan’s fire department.
The barrier lake, formed by landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, overflowed its banks, sending approximately 60 million tonnes of water rushing into the township.
This disaster has left many residents stranded, with mud and rocks covering the affected areas.
Village chief Wang Tse-an described the dire situation: “It’s chaotic now. We need supplies, which can’t get through at the moment. The most important thing is to get people out to safety and put them in shelters”.
Rescuers are working tirelessly to reach affected areas, with regions across Taiwan sending teams to Hualien to aid in relief efforts.
About 60% of Guangfu’s 8,500 residents managed to escape the worst of the flooding by taking shelter on higher floors of their homes or staying with relatives.
The military deployed over 300 troops to assist rescue efforts.
The typhoon brought about 70 centimeters (28 inches) of rain to Taiwan’s east, while sparing the more populous west coast.
The storm struck Hong Kong early Wednesday with winds of up to 195 kph (120 mph), toppling trees, flooding coastal neighborhoods and forcing people to seek refuge in temporary shelters.
Super Typhoon Ragasa, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, has wind gusts of up to 285km/h and is now heading towards southern China and Hong Kong.
Authorities reported at least 13 injuries and suspended flights, schools and train services.
The storm also caused infrastructure damage as it ripped off the top of a pedestrian footbridge.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned of a “significant” storm surge with “two to three meters of rise in water level expected over the coast of Hong Kong.”
Earlier, the observatory issued the highest level of typhoon warning overnight.
Meanwhile, Ragasa forced the relocation of more than a million people in southern China’s Guangdong province.
The storm is forecast to make landfall later on Wednesday between the cities of Taishan and Zhanjiang, according to the national weather agency.
Chinese authorities have ordered businesses and schools to shut down in at least 10 cities across the south.
Ragasa has battered the region since Monday.
The typhoon has already caused deaths in the Philippines and is expected to make landfall in Guangdong province, prompting widespread evacuations and disruptions.
This disaster is reminiscent of Typhoon Morakot in 2009, which killed nearly 700 people in southern Taiwan and caused approximately $3 billion in damage.
The current death toll and destruction caused by Ragasa are significant concerns, with many fearing the tayphoon could leave a similar trail of devastation.
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