TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The township of Guangfu in Hualien County needs more plumbers and electricians, while volunteers are being asked to fill 10,000 sandbags, the government said Saturday.

Tens of thousands of volunteers and military personnel descended on the township to help with the cleanup after the Mataian Creek barrier lake overflowed in the wake of Typhoon Ragasa on Sept. 23. The overflow sent water and mud into the township while 18 people were reported dead and six were unaccounted for.

By Saturday noon, at the beginning of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, an estimated 20,000 volunteers arrived in Guangfu per train. Minister without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng (季連成) had called for more electricians and plumbers, per CNA.

The cleanup of homes and roads is nearing completion, so volunteers can take a break and stay home during the holiday, he added. If they still came, they could help with sandbags as many doors and windows were destroyed by the flooding.

Electricians said replacing plug sockets and wall switches only needed half a day, but if the mud has entered the cables, there might be a risk of short circuits, CNA reported. They advised residents to replace the whole power supply system, but that might take at least a full day.