Taiwan Revises Typhoon Ragasa Death Toll to 14; China Initiates Cleanup Efforts

As Typhoon Ragasa moves westward through China and approaches Vietnam, Taiwan has adjusted its official death toll associated with the storm from 17 to 14. This revision highlights the meticulous efforts of the Hualien County Fire Department, which identified discrepancies in previous casualty counts, revealing that some victims had been mistakenly counted multiple times. The current number of individuals uncontactable has also been revised, diminishing from 152 to 33 as search efforts continue across the islands.

The impact of Typhoon Ragasa was particularly felt in Hualien County, where rainy conditions generated by the storm caused a barrier lake in the mountainous region to overflow, resulting in a devastating surge of water that struck the town of Guangfu. Tragically, many of the casualties occurred on the ground floors of buildings. Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai urged thorough investigations into these fatalities, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the “golden rescue window” to locate those reported missing.

Despite disruptions caused by the storm, the Guangfu train station has resumed operations; however, the main highway remains impassable due to floodwaters that have washed away critical infrastructure such as a bridge. In a show of leadership and solidarity, Taiwan President William Lai pledged to donate a month’s salary to assist relief efforts for displaced residents and is scheduled to visit the impacted areas later today.

In mainland China, Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in Guangdong province on Wednesday, where it generated winds reaching up to 145 km/h (90 mph) following its passage near Hong Kong. Cleanup efforts began swiftly in southern China, with residents working to clear fallen trees and debris littering streets in various locales, including Yangjiang. Fortunately, officials have not reported any storm-related fatalities within the province.

In anticipation of the storm, authorities shut down businesses and schools across at least 10 cities, affecting millions of residents. As a precaution, nearly 2.2 million people were relocated in Guangdong. Subsequently, local officials have begun lifting restrictions, indicating a gradual return to normalcy as recovery efforts are initiated.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Ragasa made a second landfall in Beihai, Guangxi, on Thursday, transitioning into a tropical storm. To support the ongoing recovery initiatives, Chinese authorities have allocated approximately million for relief and rescue operations. By Thursday morning, Ragasa had weakened to sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) but still poses a rain threat to Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia.

This resilience and spirit of cooperation displayed by affected regions underscore the strength of communities rallying in the face of adversity, embodying a commitment to reconstruction and hope.

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