Super Typhoon Ragasa has carved a deadly path across East Asia, leaving at least 14 people dead and 17 missing in eastern Taiwan after torrential rains caused a barrier lake to burst, unleashing devastating floods.
The storm also pummeled Hong Kong with fierce winds and towering waves before setting its sights on China’s southeastern coast.
Taiwan’s Hualien County bore the brunt of the disaster, where elderly residents were unable to escape surging waters from Matai’an Creek Barrier Lake in Guangfu Township.
The Hualien County Fire Department confirmed 34 others were injured, while emergency crews continue frantic search-and-rescue operations.
The barrier lake, formed by landslide debris during earlier rains, overflowed Tuesday morning before collapsing entirely by late afternoon, sending torrents of water crashing through Guangfu.
Dramatic footage broadcast by local media showed muddy floods sweeping away vehicles, toppling a bridge, and forcing residents to scramble onto rooftops until waters receded, leaving behind a trail of mud and wreckage.
Some parts of Taiwan’s east coast recorded over 700 mm of rainfall, while southern towns endured 500–600 mm, according to the Central News Agency. The scale of the flooding marks one of the most severe weather events to strike Hualien in recent years.
President William Lai Ching-te announced that all ministries and the military had been mobilized to support disaster relief, urging vigilance and caution. “Everyone must remain vigilant. All frontline personnel must prioritize their safety while carrying out rescue operations,” Lai posted on Facebook.
As Ragasa barrels northwest, forecasters warn of further danger for China’s southeastern provinces, with authorities urging coastal communities to prepare for powerful winds, flooding, and possible storm surges.
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