At least 17 people were killed when a decades-old lake barrier burst in Taiwan, authorities said on Wednesday, after Super Typhoon Ragasa pounded the island with torrential rains.

Ragasa lashed the northern Philippines and Taiwan on Monday with heavy rain and strong winds, forcing thousands to evacuate.

The barrier lake in eastern Hualien county burst on Tuesday, washing away a bridge and sweeping into a town.

The death toll rose to 17 in the afternoon from 14 earlier, while the number of missing fell from 152 to 17 as most people have been located, local authorities said.

They also said floodwaters temporarily rose as high as the second floor of a house in some parts of the town on Tuesday, stranding about 263 people.

They were not in immediate danger and were asked to stay and wait for the water to recede.

Footage released by the local fire agency showed flooded streets and half-submerged cars as trees were uprooted in the area.

Taiwan experiences frequent tropical storms from July to October.

Typhoon Danas, which hit the island in early July, killed two people and injured hundreds as the storm dumped more than 20 inches of rain across the south over a weekend. (AFP)
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Last updated: 2025-09-24 HKT 19:21