Hualien: President Lai Ching-te has mandated that the levees in Hualien County be repaired within a month after a severe storm resulted in deadly flooding. The directive came after Typhoon Ragasa damaged the region, causing significant loss of life and property.
According to Focus Taiwan, President Lai stated during his visit to the eastern county that the central government would fully support Hualien's disaster relief and recovery efforts. He announced the deployment of military personnel to help clear flood debris from homes and promised additional resources, including heavy equipment and manpower, if necessary.
The storm's heavy rainfall led to the overflow of a barrier lake on Matai'an Creek, severely flooding the townships of Guangfu, Wanrong, and Fenglin. In response, Lai instructed the Water Resources Agency to complete repairs within a month to avoid further issues when the rainy season begins next April.
As of Thursday evening, officials confirmed 16 deaths due to the flooding, with 24 individuals still missing. Hualien County's rescue center provided these figures as investigations into the fatalities commenced.
Prosecutors have begun examining why deaths occurred despite a mandatory pre-storm evacuation order. Hsiao Huan-chang, head of the National Fire Agency, mentioned that the investigation would focus on the enforcement of evacuation procedures. This follows a statement from the Hualien County government suggesting that "vertical evacuation" guidance led residents to mistakenly believe upper floors were safe.
One tragic incident involved an 84-year-old woman in Guangfu who drowned during the flood. Her son, surnamed Liu, recounted their final moments together before escaping the water, which consumed their home. Liu's sister also perished, with authorities confirming drowning as the cause of the mother's death.
In a more hopeful outcome, a 6-year-old girl was rescued by Pingtung County firefighters after being reported missing. Found standing on an elevated structure inside her flooded home, the girl was uninjured and reunited with her mother.