In an extraordinary display of community solidarity, tens of thousands of volunteers have descended on the small tourist town of Guangfu in Hualien County, Taiwan, to help clean up after a devastating flood triggered by Typhoon Ragasa. The typhoon, the strongest of 2025, caused a natural dam to burst, releasing over 15.4 million tonnes of water and mud into the town. At least 18 people died in the disaster.
Volunteers, including students, monks, retirees, and families, arrived by train, car, and motorbike, many carrying shovels. On the first day of a long weekend, more than 30,000 volunteers arrived by train, quadrupling the town's usual population. Ten extra train services were added, and traffic controls were implemented to manage the influx. The volunteers, dubbed 'shovel supermen', were cheered with cries of 'jiayou' (add oil) as they disembarked.
The clean-up effort has been coordinated by local authorities and charities, including the Buddhist Tzu Chi foundation, which managed about 10,000 volunteers. However, some residents expressed dissatisfaction with the government's response. Wang Wei-chang, who was cleaning his parents' home, said no government officials had arrived until three days after the flooding, while volunteers from Tainan had come at 5 a.m. The disaster has sparked political blame between county officials and the central government over the evacuation order, the largest ever issued in Taiwan.
Despite the chaos and the thick, smelly mud that sucks boots from feet, the atmosphere among volunteers is upbeat, with laughter and encouragement. Many walk around with shovels, offering help to anyone who needs it. A firefighter noted that while the large number of volunteers could slow rescue work if not properly managed, the situation has not been too problematic.
