Super typhoon “Ragaca” took the lives of 14 people in Taiwan, more than 120 are missing
On the island of Taiwan, the super typhoon “Ragaca” took the lives of 14 people, more than 120 are still missing. The element is moving towards the coast of mainland China, reports The Guardian.
At present, the main impact of the typhoon fell on Taiwan. In the sparsely populated eastern part of the island, a barrier lake burst its banks, formed as a result of landslides after previous heavy rainfall. The flood of water covered the village of Guangfu. There, the water swept away a large road bridge across the river. In the village of Dama, where about a thousand people live, large-scale flooding has been recorded, many residents remain stranded.
“As of 7 am on Wednesday, 14 people were confirmed dead and 18 injured. Yesterday evening, the National Fire Safety Agency reported 30 people missing, and our teams are still searching, said Hualien County Government Press Office Li Kuan-ting.
In the same county, 124 people are considered missing. The storm also damaged infrastructure, toppling trees, tearing off roofs and killing at least two people in the northern Philippines, where thousands of people were forced to seek shelter in schools and evacuation centers.
According to the Hong Kong Meteorological Service, the super typhoon was accompanied by sustained winds of up to 195 km/h near its center as it moved west across the South China Sea. On Wednesday, Hong Kong and parts of southern China were on high alert. “Ragaca” brought strong winds and downpours, forcing authorities to close schools and businesses in at least ten cities.
Schools were suspended in Hong Kong on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, the stock exchange remained open thanks to new rules allowing operations during typhoons. According to the airport’s website, not a single plane left Hong Kong after 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, and more than 500 flights were canceled.
At 2:40 a.m. on Wednesday, the Hong Kong Observatory issued the highest typhoon warning level, T10. The department stressed that it will remain in force for a certain period of time, as “Ragaca” was to approach the area later in the morning.
