At least 14 people have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a natural dam on a river in eastern Taiwan, which was struck by the devastating Typhoon RAGASA.
In addition, 30 others have been reported as missing, according to local authorities.
The tragic incident occurred in the aftermath of heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon RAGASA, which triggered a landslide and led to the collapse of a natural dam that had been holding back water from a lake formed in the upper section of the Matayan River.
The dam's failure caused a massive flood, sweeping away a nearby bridge, inundating a neighboring village, and trapping hundreds of residents, as reported by local officials.
According to Li Kuan-Ting, the media officer for Hualien County Government, the latest toll, as of 7:00 AM on Wednesday, includes 14 confirmed fatalities and 18 injuries.
The authorities are continuing their search for the missing individuals.
The number of missing people had been reported as 30 by the National Fire Agency the previous evening. Rescue teams are actively working to locate survivors in the affected areas.
Typhoon RAGASA, categorized as an extremely powerful storm, began to approach Taiwan early Monday morning.
Its outer bands brought intense rainfall, which exceeded 60 centimeters in some eastern regions of the island.
The heavy rains significantly increased the risk of landslides and flash floods, particularly in mountainous areas that are difficult to access.
Currently, the storm is heading towards China’s southern coastline, while Taiwan remains on high alert, prepared to respond to any further developments from the storm's movement.
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