14 dead, 124 missing after barrier lake burst in Taiwan

At least 14 people have been confirmed dead and 124 are missing after a barrier lake burst in Taiwan’s eastern Hualien County on Tuesday, following torrential rainfall brought by Super Typhoon Ragasa.

Authorities said the lake, formed by a natural landslide decades ago, burst after being overwhelmed by heavy rain. The sudden collapse sent a surge of water and mud into Kuang Fu township, destroying a bridge and inundating residential areas.

Lee Kuan-ting, a spokesperson for the Hualien County Government, reported that 18 people were also injured. Taiwan’s National Fire Agency is leading search and rescue operations, as dozens remain unaccounted for.

“It was like a volcano erupting... the muddy floodwaters came roaring straight into the first floor of my house,” said Hsu Cheng-hsiung, a 55-year-old local community leader.

Residents described the scene as chaotic. “An hour before the lake burst, people were still shopping. Then the water rose within minutes,” said 31-year-old Yen Shau, who spent the night clearing mud from his home.

Footage released by emergency services shows widespread flooding, submerged vehicles, and uprooted trees. Over 7,600 people were evacuated across Taiwan due to the typhoon.

Typhoon Ragasa is the second major storm to impact the island this season. In July, Typhoon Danas killed two people and caused hundreds of injuries, dropping over 50 cm of rain across southern Taiwan.

Typhoon season in Taiwan typically lasts from July to October, with several severe storms expected each year.