Barrier Lake Flood Kills 14 in Taiwan as Super Typhoon Ragasa Triggers Widespread Chaos
At least 14 people have died and 129 remain missing after a barrier lake burst in eastern Taiwan, unleashing floodwaters that swept through a popular tourist area. The incident occurred in Hualien County’s Guangfu township on Tuesday afternoon, following heavy rainfall from Super Typhoon Ragasa.
The typhoon, which has been lashing Taiwan since Monday, is now impacting southern China and Hong Kong. The overflowing lake, formed by landslides in the mountainous region, sent a powerful surge of water through the town, washing away a major bridge and damaging homes.
Postman Hsieh Chien-tung described the event as a “tsunami” and escaped to the second floor of the local post office just in time. When he returned home, his car had been swept into his living room.
Rescue efforts face mud, debris and stranded residents
All confirmed fatalities and missing persons were from Guangfu. Rescue teams across Taiwan have been deployed to Hualien, with the military sending 340 troops to support recovery operations. Soldiers in armoured vehicles are distributing food and water, navigating the streets clogged with mud and rocks.
Village chief Wang Tse-an said the entire Dama village, home to 1,000 people, was flooded. “It’s chaotic now,” he told Reuters, emphasising that moving residents to shelters was the top priority, although roads remained impassable.
Police sirens sounded in Guangfu on Wednesday morning to warn of another possible flood, triggering panic as people rushed to safety. Councillor Lamen Panay noted that earlier evacuation advice was not mandatory and criticised the response.
“When warnings were issued, the government said people could evacuate vertically,” she said, referring to guidance to move to upper floors. “But what we were facing wasn’t something ‘vertical evacuation’ could resolve.”
Massive water release and ongoing risk
Government figures show around 5,200 people—60% of Guangfu’s population—sought shelter on the upper floors of their homes. Most others relocated to stay with family. The government estimates the barrier lake held 91 million tonnes of water—enough to fill 36,000 Olympic-sized pools. Around 60 million tonnes were released when the banks broke.
Hualien, known for its scenic beauty, is one of Taiwan’s top tourist destinations. It is also home to many indigenous groups, including the Amis.
Though the east coast endured nearly 70 cm of rain, Taiwan’s western regions—home to its vital semiconductor sector—were largely unaffected.
In a rare gesture, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office extended condolences. Despite political tensions, Beijing acknowledged the disaster, though it continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory.
The current disaster recalls Typhoon Morakot in 2009, which killed about 700 people in southern Taiwan and caused up to $3 billion in damages.
