When the floodwater came rushing down from the mountain, Awa and her husband tried to get to their car – but it was already too late. It was like a river outside and cars were floating. Everything started drifting, said the 42-year-old bookstore owner. The couple sought refuge on the second floor of their shop in Guangfu township, trying to save as many books as possible. I'm still in shock. I just can't imagine how this could have happened, she said. Like many Taiwanese, Awa is reeling from the unexpected deadly destruction caused by Super Typhoon Ragasa, even though the island was not in the direct path of the strongest storm the world has seen this year. The breaching of a barrier lake – formed after landslides triggered by another typhoon blocked rivers in a remote mountain valley in July – is the main cause of extensive damage in the eastern county of Hualien, said Huang Chao Chin, the deputy commander of Taiwan's Central Emergency Operation Centre. People who were in the path of the deadly wall of water that swept down the mountainside stood little chance as it washed away a bridge, uprooted trees, and submerged vehicles. Many of those who died were elderly, trapped by water surging into their homes. The Matai'an Creek barrier lake is about 11km (7 miles) away from downstream communities. It held some 91 million tonnes of water, enough to fill 36,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. About three-quarters of that water was suddenly released after the lake burst its banks on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring 32 others. Forty-six people are still unaccounted for. Emergency services said the water was meters deep in Guangfu, the town worst hit, rising as high as the second floor of a house in places and about one-floor deep in the town centre. Survivors in Guangfu said they received no warning from the authorities immediately before disaster struck. But experts had warned of the potential for disaster. Authorities had been monitoring the situation closely. After the true extent of the disaster unfolded, local officials are now being criticized for their lack of communication and preparedness. With many survivors expressing shock and grief, the focus shifts to recovery, safety, and how such devastation could be managed better in the future.
Devastation in Hualien: Residents Left Reeling After Typhoon-Induced Floods
Devastation in Hualien: Residents Left Reeling After Typhoon-Induced Floods
Following the unexpected overflow of a barrier lake triggered by Super Typhoon Ragasa, residents in Guangfu, Taiwan, are facing catastrophic flooding and loss. Emergency response appears inadequate as the community mourns the loss of lives, particularly among the elderly.
Super Typhoon Ragasa has wreaked havoc in Hualien, Taiwan, causing a catastrophic flood due to the sudden breaching of a barrier lake. Many residents are in shock as they cope with the loss of loved ones and property. Authorities have faced criticism for inadequate warnings as at least 14 people have died, with many still missing. The situation is exacerbated by the region's vulnerability to natural disasters and a diminishing tourism industry.
