A recent and devastating flood in Taiwan has claimed at least 17 lives and left many more missing after a natural barrier lake burst under the immense pressure of Super Typhoon Ragasa. The tragedy unfolded in eastern Hualien County, where a decades old barrier lake on the upper Mataian Creek, formed by a prior landslide, gave way to the relentless rainfall. The sudden release of water sent a raging torrent through the nearby town of Guangfu, catching residents completely off guard. The floodwaters were so powerful they swept away a bridge, inundated homes, and carried vehicles away, turning streets into churning rivers of mud and debris.Residents described the horrifying event with a sense of disbelief and terror. 'It was like a volcano eru
