Super Typhoon Ragasa has left at least 14 people dead in Taiwan’s eastern Hualien county after a barrier lake overflowed and unleashed a devastating wall of water into Guangfu township, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Taiwan: Deadly Floods in Hualien
The disaster began Tuesday afternoon when the rain-swollen barrier lake—formed by landslides after days of downpour—burst its banks. Nearly 60 million tonnes of water surged into Guangfu, flooding large parts of the township.
Government data shows about 60% of the town’s 8,500 residents took refuge on the upper floors of their homes in what officials called a “vertical evacuation,” while most others left to stay with relatives.
Taiwan’s fire department said 124 people remain missing in Hualien. The county alone recorded nearly 70 cm (28 inches) of rain since Monday as Ragasa’s outer bands pounded the island.
The devastation reminiscent of Typhoon Morakot in 2009, which killed almost 700 people and caused $3 billion in damage.
Southern China on High Alert
The typhoon, packing sustained winds of 195 kph (120 mph), is now moving west-northwest at about 22 kph across the northern South China Sea. China’s National Meteorological Center forecasts landfall between Taishan and Zhanjiang in Guangdong province between Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Authorities in Guangdong said over 1 million residents have been relocated. Schools, businesses, and transport services have been suspended, with flights cancelled across several cities.
Hong Kong and Guangdong Brace for Impact
In Hong Kong, waves as high as 3 meters battered the coastline, drawing crowds to waterfronts despite government warnings. Police and rescue teams pulled three people, including a child, from rising waters.
Across Guangdong and neighboring Fujian, residents fortified their homes with sandbags, taped up windows, and stocked up on essentials amid warnings of flooding comparable to Typhoon Hato (2017) and Typhoon Mangkhut (2018), which caused billions in losses.
Typhoon Ragasa Kills 14 In Taiwan, Heads Towards Southern China
