 "ens of thousands of volunteers swarmed Guangfu to assist after a typhoon-triggered mudslide inundated the town with over 15 million tonnes of water and debris.")
A massive wave of volunteers from across Taiwan descended on Guangfu Township in Hualien County to help with relief operations after devastating floods struck the area on Saturday,
The flooding was triggered by Typhoon Ragasa’s heavy rains beginning Tuesday, causing the Matai’an Creek Barrier Lake to overflow and inundate Guangfu, Wanrong, and Fenglin townships. The disaster has resulted in 17 deaths, seven missing people, and widespread destruction with mud and debris covering the landscape.
Government rescue teams have faced challenges in deploying enough staff to manage the disaster response, prompting humanitarian groups like the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation to step in. Between Thursday and Friday, Tzu Chi dispatched about 1,000 volunteers, and that number surged to nearly 3,000 by the weekend.
Many volunteers assisted flood victims, taking advantage of extra train services arranged by Taiwan Railway Corp. to travel to the affected communities.
Volunteers earn the nickname “Supermen”
Equipped with rainboots and their own tools, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to clear debris and prepare food for those impacted by the floods.
The community and media have embraced them as “Supermen,” with some specifically known as “Shovel Supermen” for cleanup efforts, and others called “Cooking Supermen” for their work in meal preparation.
Among those helping were two Ukrainian women who have been living in Taiwan for nearly a decade, as reported by Focus Taiwan. One of them told the national news agency that a trip to Hualien was planned well in advance, but when the floods struck, they felt compelled to stay and help with the recovery.
Although the turnout was impressive, some volunteers pointed out the need for better organisation. To address this, local authorities have entrusted Tzu Chi with coordinating volunteer activities to ensure their efforts are well-directed.
Better shelter for displaced flood victims
Thousands forced to evacuate their homes are currently residing in temporary shelters. To enhance their living conditions, the government has partnered with 30 local hotels and inns to provide alternative accommodations.
Vice Economics Minister Lai Chien-hsin confirmed that displaced residents will receive a daily stipend of NT$2,000 (about US$65) for up to seven days, with the option to extend for another week. Funding for this initiative will initially come from the Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, with the Executive Yuan overseeing cooperation between hotels and government agencies. Applications for this housing support will remain open until the end of October.