Swollen by Typhoon Ragasa, the Matai'an river reservoir in Wanrong township, Hualien county, eastern Taiwan, overflowed on 23/9, after water levels began rising on 22/9.

The ensuing flood swept away a bridge over the Matai’an river, inundating the towns of Wanrong, Guangfu, and Fenglin, submerging homes and vehicles.

"As of the morning of 24/9, at least 14 people have died, 18 are injured, and 124 are missing. Rescue forces are searching for victims," said Lee Kuan-ting, a Hualien county official.

Homes and vehicles in Guangfu township submerged by the burst Matai’an reservoir on 23/9. Photo: *AFP*

"In the town center, the water reached the first floor of buildings, while in some areas it reached the second floor," said Lee Lung-sheng, deputy director of the Hualien County Fire Department.

Over 7,600 people in Taiwan were evacuated due to Typhoon Ragasa. The island is frequently affected by tropical storms from July to October. Typhoon Danas hit Taiwan in early July, killing two and injuring hundreds.

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

This 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 Ragasa the world's strongest storm so far this year.

Meteorologists attribute Ragasa's unusual intensification to high sea surface temperatures and atmospheric humidity. The typhoon experienced minimal wind shear, allowing its core strength to increase continuously. These factors created ideal conditions for rapid intensification, according to TWN.

From 23/9 to 26/9, southern China is forecast to experience heavy rain and strong winds, with particularly heavy rainfall expected in areas of the Pearl River Delta and coastal Guangdong. All high-speed and regular trains in Guangdong were suspended on 24/9, with services gradually resuming from the morning of 25/9 as the typhoon weakened.

According to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 4 a.m. on 25/9, the typhoon was over the southern province of Guangzhou, China, with maximum sustained winds of level 12, gusting to level 15, moving west-northwest at 20-25 km/h. The typhoon then rapidly weakened into a tropical depression, reaching northern Vietnam by 4 a.m. on 26/9, with wind speeds reduced to level 6, gusting to level 8.

Hong Hanh (*AFP/PTS*)