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When the floodwaters surged from the mountainside, Awa and her husband attempted to reach their vehicle, but were met with an insurmountable torrent.
“It was like a river outside, with cars afloat. Everything was adrift,” recounted the 42-year-old bookstore proprietor. Seeking safety on the second story of their establishment in Guangfu township, the couple endeavored to salvage as many books as they could.
“I’m still in a state of shock. I can’t fathom how this transpired,” she expressed.
Awa, like many Taiwanese citizens, is grappling with the unexpected and devastating consequences of Super Typhoon Ragasa, despite the island not being directly impacted by what has been classified as the year’s most potent storm.
According to Huang Chao Chin, deputy commander of Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Centre, the primary cause of the extensive damage in the eastern county of Hualien was the breaching of a barrier lake. This lake had formed after landslides, triggered by a previous typhoon in July, obstructed rivers in a remote mountainous valley.
Individuals caught in the path of the ensuing deluge had minimal chance of escape as it swept away a bridge, uprooted trees, and submerged vehicles.
Tragically, many of the fatalities were elderly individuals who became trapped as the waters inundated their residences.
The Matai’an Creek barrier lake is situated approximately 11 kilometers (7 miles) from downstream communities.
It held an estimated 91 million tonnes of water, a volume sufficient to fill 36,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. On Tuesday, approximately three-quarters of this volume was abruptly discharged following the lake’s embankment failure, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and 32 injuries. As of the latest reports, 46 individuals remain unaccounted for.
Emergency responders indicated that the water levels in Guangfu, the most severely affected town, reached several meters in depth. In some areas, the water ascended to the second story of buildings, while the town center experienced flooding up to one story high.
Chen Wen Shan, emeritus professor of geology at National Taiwan University, likened the force of the water released by the lake’s breach to that of a tsunami.
“The kinetic energy could potentially surpass that of a tsunami. The flow speed may exceed 100km/h [62mph],” he informed the BBC. “Although the energy dissipates upon reaching the plains, it retains considerable power and velocity, far exceeding the capacity of a typical river embankment.”
Survivors in Guangfu have stated they received no immediate warning from authorities prior to the disaster.
However, Prof. Chen noted that the academic community had previously raised concerns, as universities were diligently monitoring the barrier lake’s water level and collaborating with authorities on emergency preparedness plans.
“With the impending typhoon, we were able to estimate the anticipated rainfall. We anticipated the possibility of the lake overflowing. A partial dam collapse further contributed to the substantial water volume. However, even this volume remained within our projected estimates,” he stated.
“The inadequate evacuation of residents is a contributing factor to the severity of the disaster.”
On Monday, September 22, the day preceding Ragasa’s approach, Hualien authorities issued warnings, evacuated approximately 7,000 individuals, and established three evacuation centers. The central government consistently urged the county administration to expedite the evacuation process.
However, Hualien county councillor Yang Hua-mei informed the BBC that the evacuation was “not mandatory” and local officials merely advised the public to seek higher ground.
Shortly before 15:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the barrier lake overflowed. Officials anticipated that it would take two hours for the floodwaters to reach inhabited areas downstream and that only residents near the river would be affected.
However, within an hour, immense volumes of water were inundating Guangfu Township, home to 12,000 residents.
“There were no specific flooding warnings or broadcasts,” an administrator at a Guangfu high school, designated as an evacuation center, told the BBC under the condition of anonymity. He had initially been tasked with assisting evacuees.
He recounted finishing lunch around 15:00 when he received news of the lake’s breach.
“Within 10 minutes, water spread from the street onto the campus. The 400-square-mile sports ground was submerged,” he stated. Chairs, tables, refrigerators, and even automobiles were soon afloat.
“Had I still been on the street, I would not have been able to reach higher ground. Numerous objects were floating in the water, and I could have been struck or even electrocuted.”
The administrator suggested that officials may have underestimated Ragasa’s impact, as the lake did not breach its banks during a weaker typhoon the previous month.
Since the previous week, County Mayor Hsu Chen-wei had been on a trip to South Korea to promote tourism. She reportedly returned to Hualien on Monday evening following a call from the interior minister.
Individuals like Awa and her husband at the bookshop, as well as the school administrator, were able to reach safety in time.
However, many of the flood’s victims were elderly. Local media reports indicate that most bodies were discovered on the ground floors of houses.
“Rural elderly residents typically receive information through in-person communication. It remains unclear how local authorities informed them and managed the situation,” stated Awa. Hualien’s population is ageing, and a significant portion of its older residents do not utilize smartphones.
“Many elderly residents are also bedridden due to chronic illnesses, and lacked assistance,” Ms. Yang added.
Prof. Chen emphasized that there are no immediate solutions. While small blasting operations can be conducted to divert water in barrier lakes composed of harder bedrock, the current lake is formed of looser earth and rocks.
“Furthermore, the absence of roads leading to the mountains precludes the deployment of heavy machinery.”
Taiwan possesses considerable experience with barrier lakes, with 88 having formed on the island since the 1970s, according to Taiwan’s Public Television Service. Typhoons account for 57% of these formations, while earthquakes account for 23%. Most disappear within a year, though four have persisted for decades.
Former interior minister Lee Hong-yuan, a trained civil engineer, told local media that the Taiwanese public lacks a comprehensive understanding of barrier lakes. He noted that numerous researchers were witnessing the bursting of a barrier lake for the first time.
Hualien, with nearly 90% of its terrain mountainous, is no stranger to natural disasters. The county is frequently the first location in Taiwan to experience typhoons, and its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire renders it susceptible to earthquakes.
Ms. Yang noted that the calamities of the past two years, including a fatal magnitude 7.1 earthquake in 2024, have devastated the county’s tourism industry. Many scenic spots and routes within the renowned Taroko Gorge National Park remain closed following the earthquake.
The county also has the largest Indigenous population in Taiwan, with Awa’s husband being one of them. The couple established the bookshop four years ago with the mission of preserving the history of Indigenous people – and it moved to its current location just a few months ago.
The bookshop is now saturated in mud as they assess the damage.
“I am deeply saddened, as some of the books are now out of print,” she lamented.
However, she and her husband are, at least, safe.
Others in the town are contending with the loss of loved ones or are concerned about injured relatives and friends, as well as those who remain missing.
A tearful Ms. Shih, whose 87-year-old mother perished in the flood, informed local media that her mother’s body was discovered covered in debris inside their residence.
“We implore the government and police to contact us promptly and assist in recovering my mother’s body so that she may be laid to rest.”
Additional reporting by Lok Lee of BBC News Chinese in Taipei
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