At least 14 people have been confirmed dead after a decades-old natural lake barrier collapsed in Taiwan’s Hualien County, unleashing torrents of mud and water following Super Typhoon Ragasa’s heavy rainfall.
The lake, formed by landslides that created a natural dam, burst on Tuesday, destroying a bridge and sweeping thick sludge into Kuang Fu township.
“It was like a volcano erupting. The muddy floodwaters came roaring straight into the first floor of my house,” said 55-year-old neighbourhood leader Hsu Cheng-hsiung.
Authorities reported 18 injuries and said more than 152 people remain missing. Premier Cho Jung-tai, who visited the disaster zone, promised relief for victims and questioned why evacuation orders had not been enforced.
Survivors described scenes of panic as floodwaters rose within minutes, trapping residents in homes and shops. Footage showed submerged vehicles, uprooted trees, and streets buried in mud.
The National Fire Agency said over 7,600 people were evacuated across Taiwan as the storm raged. The island, prone to tropical storms between July and October, is still reeling from Typhoon Danas in July, which killed two and injured hundreds.
