TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Ragasa destroyed the Matai'an Bridge (馬太鞍溪橋) in Hualien County, Eastern Taiwan, Tuesday (Sept. 23) after floodwaters overflowed a landslide lake dam. Officials had closed the bridge at 10 a.m. as a precautionary measure before the catastrophic 2:40 p.m. collapse. The overflow flooded areas beyond the riverbanks, prompting immediate evacuation warnings for nearby townships. Strong winds and significant rainfall from the typhoon's outer bands continue battering the eastern county.
Authorities ordered residents in Wanrong Township (萬榮鄉), Fenglin Township (鳳林鎮), and Guangfu Township (光復鄉) to evacuate or seek higher ground immediately. The Hualien County Government warned of a second, larger overflow expected at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Officials advised residents to prepare for immediate evacuation based on local government emergency directives and rapidly deteriorating flooding conditions. Emergency services continue monitoring water levels as the typhoon's impact intensifies across the eastern coastal region.
The Highway Bureau's (公路局) Eastern Region Branch Office (東區養護工程分局) confirmed the 10 a.m. bridge closure using flood maps from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (林保署). Officials restricted traffic to one lane in each direction to expedite reopening after floodwaters recede from the damaged infrastructure. The bureau warned of possible complete closure if typhoon conditions continue deteriorating throughout Tuesday afternoon. Emergency crews remain on standby to assess structural damage once water levels drop sufficiently for safe inspection.
Route 193 remains under emergency control with vehicles permitted only to exit at northern and southern endpoints during the ongoing crisis. Officials evacuated over 3,200 residents from more than 10 villages across Guangfu, Wanrong, and Fenglin townships as a proactive safety measure. Mudslides continue inundating roads throughout these areas, causing vehicles to float and creating extremely dangerous conditions. Emergency responders monitor the situation as Typhoon Ragasa's impact spreads across eastern Taiwan's mountainous regions. ◼