While Super Typhoon Ragasa did not directly hit Taiwan on 22/9, its outer bands brought strong winds and heavy rainfall, reaching nearly 600 mm in some eastern areas. The Mata'an Creek overflowed at 2:50 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., sending torrents of water into residential areas in Guangfu Township, Hualien County.

Videos shared on social media show muddy floodwaters rushing through the streets, carrying away cars. Floodwaters reached the roofs of many houses, causing significant damage.

The Hualien County Fire Department reported two deaths and 30 people missing, with around 300 still trapped. Rescue teams from across Taiwan are being deployed to Guangfu.

The Mata'an Creek bridge was destroyed by the floodwaters, and several other bridges were closed due to rising river levels.

Hualien County authorities announced that schools and workplaces in Guangfu will be closed on 24/9. By evening, the floodwaters had begun to recede.

The Weather Network (TWN), a Canadian meteorological analysis organization, reported that Super Typhoon Ragasa reached sustained winds of 270 km/h when it made landfall in the Babuyan Islands in the northern Philippines on 22/9.

This wind speed made it stronger than two other super typhoons this year: Erin in the North Atlantic in August and Errol in the East Indian Ocean in mid-April, making it the strongest storm globally since the beginning of the year.

In the Philippines, at least three people died, and thousands were displaced due to widespread flooding, landslides, and severe damage to homes and infrastructure in affected areas.

Huyen Le (Reuters, Focus Taiwan, Independent)