When the floodwater came rushing down from the mountain, Awa and her husband tried to get to their car – but it was already too late.

It was like a river outside and cars were floating. Everything started drifting, said the 42-year-old bookstore owner. The couple sought refuge on the second floor of their shop in Guangfu township, trying to save as many books as possible.

Like many Taiwanese, Awa is reeling from the unexpected deadly destruction caused by Super Typhoon Ragasa, even though the island was not in the direct path of the storm.

The breaching of a barrier lake – formed after landslides triggered by another typhoon blocked rivers in a remote mountain valley – is the main cause of extensive damage in the eastern county of Hualien. This lake released about 91 million tonnes of water after bursting its banks on September 22, killing at least 14 people and leaving 46 others unaccounted for. Survivors reported no prior warning from authorities before the disaster struck.

Emergency officials and residents recounted stories of chaos as the water engulfed communities rapidly, submerging houses and uprooting trees. Many victims were elderly, trapped as waters rushed into their homes.

The kinetic energy could even be greater than that of a tsunami... the speed and flow of the water were extraordinary, said a local professor, emphasizing that this disaster took on an unprecedented scale. Despite the warnings prior to the typhoon, many locals felt inadequately informed and unprepared.

The ongoing recovery will be challenging, as Hualien, known for its rich Indigenous culture, was yet again struck by a calamity that added to its recent hardships, including previous earthquakes that had already diminished local tourism.

Awa, whose shop now lies in ruins, expressed despair mixed with relief for her safety, while others mourn their lost loved ones. The community’s resilience will be put to the test as they rebuild.