TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — One month after Hualien’s devastating flood, volunteers are still at the frontlines helping residents recover in Guangfu Township, even as the Central Emergency Operations Center shifts focus from disaster relief to reconstruction.
The flooding, caused by the overflow of Mataian barrier lake on Sept. 23, inundated the town with mud and debris. As of Oct. 14, 19 people were confirmed dead, five were still missing, 157 had been injured, and 717 were rescued, according to CNA and Business Weekly.
Despite early warnings from the Central Weather Administration, the barrier lake overflowed by 2:50 p.m., collapsing the Mataian Creek Bridge and submerging streets up to half a story deep. Within minutes, a second, even stronger wave swept through the town, releasing an estimated 15.4 million tonnes of water — roughly equivalent to 6,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools — leaving a path of devastation in its wake.
Military personnel, police, firefighters, and civilian volunteers have assisted with rescue and relief efforts. Taiwan News spoke with several of the volunteers who were among the first to enter the disaster zone and carry out relief efforts.
Wu Shang-ju (吳尚孺)
Wu Shang-ju, 34, a coach at Taipei’s Origin Training, was among the first volunteers to enter Hualien’s flooded streets. For him, the disaster was personal.
Inspired by his Indigenous roots — Guangfu Township was historically part of the Amis Mataian community — and family ties, with his grandmother living nearby and relatives working in the area, Wu delivered 100 lunchboxes to feed stranded residents.
He described the extreme conditions: homes buried in mud up to a person’s height, with drawers that, when opened, released torrents of sand and water. Residents in remote areas were trapped without food for days, surviving only on dry goods and crackers.
The disaster struck close to home. His great-aunt remains missing after being swept away while trying to escape the flood with Wu’s uncle, who was trying to save her.
“She was on the roof with him but let go because she did not want to drag him down. She was swept away and never found,” he said.
Wu recalled the emotional toll of helping survivors clear their homes. He had to tear down everything with his own hands, including furniture, decorations, and everything families had built over a lifetime.
“Old family photos, sometimes the only ones from my grandparents’ generation, were ruined, and watching residents say goodbye to these memories was heartbreaking.”
Yet he also witnessed moments of human kindness. On the way to the disaster area, Wu noticed a quiet but resolute atmosphere among volunteers.
In the first week, people acted alone or in pairs, unlike later relief waves when larger groups or companies joined. “No one knew each other, but everyone was heading there for the same purpose,” he said.
Everyone worked instinctively and compassionately, rolling up their sleeves and helping wherever needed. Drivers navigated the streets, picking up volunteers.
One moment stayed with him the most. On the way to the train station, a local woman called the volunteers over and washed their muddy boots with a hose so they could “leave properly.”
That gesture left a deep impression on him. “Honestly, every local person we met was like that — kind, humble, and thankful. But it’s not just the people there. That is what Taiwanese are like.”
While the experience was deeply moving, Wu also felt frustration over how information and awareness were handled during the disaster. Friends who had conducted environmental assessments months earlier to study local flood risks had their warnings go unheeded by local authorities.
Communication failures and a lack of coordination left many vulnerable residents stranded. Although the central government issued alerts, local authorities had no plans for relocating people, leaving many elderly residents unable to move.
In response to online criticism that too many volunteers were present, Wu said much of the recovery work actually happened behind the scenes, out of public view. While the streets appeared clean, mud remained piled behind houses, and those areas still required urgent assistance.
Wu observed a sharp contrast between volunteer action and the government response. Near Guangfu Sugar Factory, government staff were largely inactive while surrounding neighborhoods were devastated.
Residents seeking help often faced bureaucratic hurdles, such as requests for proof of disaster victim status. Many elderly people, having lost all their belongings and documentation, were unable to access food, and some boxed meals went unused.
Real coordination, Wu noted, came from local communities themselves. Residents and volunteers collected information, organized supplies, and reached out to those in need, while county government involvement remained limited.
Jhao Zih-yan (趙子嫣)
Jhao Zih-yan, 27, discovered a new purpose in Hualien’s flood relief efforts, realizing that her skills as a content creator could make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
A freelancer working as a bridal makeup artist and custom makeup instructor at Hitzuyan Beauty in Chiayi, Jhao decided to volunteer after seeing others share their experiences online. The relief work also offered a personal outlet during a difficult period — she had ended a six-year relationship earlier in the year and wanted to channel her energy into something meaningful.
Several moments stood out during her time on the ground, Jhao shared.
One involved a local resident’s car buried about 30 centimeters deep in mud. After constant shoveling proved insufficient, roughly 20–30 volunteers coordinated to lift and move the vehicle, clearing the area.
Another unforgettable memory was an 11-year-old flood victim who helped distribute supplies. Jhao was deeply moved seeing the girl sleeping on the ground, wearing rain boots and covered in mud, resting on cardboard and garbage bags with only a thin blanket, a striking display of resilience at such a young age.
Working on Fozu Street left another strong impression. Initially blocked by mud, the street reopened on the second day, drawing more than 300 volunteers who dug in coordinated efforts, which Jhao likened to everyone cultivating the land together, highlighting the unity and teamwork among volunteers.
For Jhao, the most meaningful aspect of her experience went beyond physical labor. After returning home, she edited a video showcasing her day and the young girl’s contributions.
The post drew widespread attention, with generous viewers sending the girl a sleeping bag and providing direct support. Jhao also helped other volunteers find accommodation through social media posts, giving her a tangible sense of impact.
The experience reshaped her professional outlook. Inspired by the difference her media work could make, she invested in a high-end MacBook Pro to improve content production.
Previously focused on beauty or sponsored content, she realized her videos could directly help people in need. The experience reinforced her belief in media’s potential for positive social impact and motivated her to continue using her skills for meaningful work.
Lin Ya-ge (林雅歌)
Watching a community come together in the wake of Hualien’s flooding showed 34-year-old Lin Ya-ge the power of solidarity and the impact one person can have.
A social worker at a nonprofit serving children and youth in Taoyuan, Lin initially hesitated to volunteer after the Guangfu flood. News reports showed many volunteers already on the ground, and he doubted whether his participation would matter, lacking specialized skills or financial contributions.
It was not until a friend invited him on the eighth or ninth day that he decided to join. The journey itself left a strong impression: a donor from Taoyuan had sponsored four buses for volunteers, allowing them to travel without worrying about tickets.
Seeing the buses full of about 200 people heading to help moved him deeply, a clear sign of community care and solidarity.
At the disaster sites, Lin joined a team to clean a small noodle stall buried under thick mud. The elderly shop owner, unable to help himself, promised that if the volunteers returned once the shop was restored, he would treat them to a meal.
Six volunteers who had never met before coordinated seamlessly to clear the mud, transforming the shop from chaos into order. For Lin, that sense of accomplishment was unforgettable.
Beyond the physical labor, Lin reflected on the experience’s deeper meaning. He realized that even one person matters, but the real impact comes from the collective effort of volunteers moving fluidly across disaster areas, offering help wherever needed, and sharing small items like water or snacks.
“The most meaningful thing was not how much I could physically contribute, but witnessing everyone coming together for the same purpose. Everyone’s heart was in it, and that solidarity, that commitment to help — which makes Taiwan special — is what made the experience so profound and moving,” Lin said.
Lin compared each person to a drop of water: only together could they form a powerful current. Tens of thousands of volunteers responding created a visible, transformative impact that a smaller group could never achieve.
Tai Ming-tse (戴明澤)
From New Taipei to Hualien’s mud-choked streets, Tai Ming-tse, a father of three in his 40s and an engineer at an integrated circuit design company, experienced firsthand the devastation, danger, and unexpected warmth of disaster relief.
The decision to volunteer was largely spontaneous. After seeing social media updates on the flood’s impact, Tai quickly booked a stay at a local guesthouse and set off with a friend.
Upon arriving at Guangfu Station on Sept. 28, Tai was struck by the devastation. There were mud-covered streets, tilted or floating cars, dented metal, and toppled traffic lights. The scene reminded him of a war zone, though the buildings had largely remained standing.
The crowds and coordinated movement of volunteers carrying shovels, hoes, buckets, and other tools reminded him of a Mazu pilgrimage, but with a mission of cleanup and relief. Tai distributed drinks on the train to keep volunteers hydrated before tackling physically demanding work.
Leaving the station, his group encountered mud-covered homes and streets. A local community leader, frustrated by a lack of organized relief, directed them to a residence in urgent need.
Navigating muddy, uneven roads for roughly 20 minutes, the volunteers relied entirely on manpower as large machinery had yet to arrive. At the house, doors were jammed with mud, furniture had to be hauled out, and floors scrubbed clean.
One moment during the first visit left a lasting impression. While clearing the house, an urgent warning came that the dam had breached.
Panicked, Tai and others fled, taking shelter in a makeshift second-floor storage area. The warning turned out to be a false alarm, but the scare highlighted the real risks volunteers faced.
The most meaningful part of volunteering, Tai said, was witnessing the shared kindness and dedication of everyone involved. In one instance, he uncovered old family photo albums soaked in mud.
Carefully cleaning them, he brought them to the homeowner, who initially said the house was already gone and the albums did not matter. Tai placed them in a second-floor living room to dry, preserving memories that might otherwise have been lost.
Interactions on the ground were warm and supportive. At Hualien Train Station, departing soldiers were met with cheers from volunteers, exemplifying the unity between civilians and the military.
He later returned on Oct. 5 with his son, hoping to show him the contrast between his own life and the hardships faced by local residents.
Tai observed several areas where the government response could have been stronger. Early coordination and resource allocation, he noted, could have been more comprehensive and timely.
While soldiers and firefighters eventually joined the effort, volunteers initially had to organize themselves. Tai suggested it would have been better for experienced coordinators to be on-site from the start to direct manpower and accelerate the recovery.
He also highlighted practical challenges, such as crowding at Guangfu Station, where volunteers and military personnel queued to pay for tickets. Tai recommended temporary fare adjustments or free rides for volunteers between Guangfu and Hualien to ease congestion and make relief efforts more efficient.
Despite the devastation and physical strain, Tai was deeply moved by the camaraderie among volunteers from across Taiwan. People from Taichung, Changhua, Pingtung, Kaohsiung, and Tainan worked side by side, undeterred by differences in wealth, occupation, or background.
University students
Two university students, Sung Han-chun (宋瀚鈞) and Peng Yu-cheng (彭裕程), also joined the relief efforts in Guangfu, Hualien, each sharing a perspective shaped by youth and hands-on experience.
Sung, a student at National Ilan University, focused on Fozu Street, an area severely affected by floodwaters. He joined the effort after a former employer organized a group trip, which made logistics and expenses easier to manage.
Witnessing residents express gratitude left a lasting impression on Sung. He noted the wide range of volunteers, from elderly residents to school-aged children, all contributing selflessly.
“It showed the spirit of unity, people giving their time and energy without expecting anything in return,” he reflected.
A photograph he took of the flood-damaged street, framed by the area’s natural scenery, captured the stark contrast between nature’s beauty and its destructive power.
Peng, a student at National Dong Hwa University in Hualien, also volunteered along Fozu Street. He was struck by both the scale of the work and the dedication of volunteers traveling from other cities during their holidays.
Spending much of his time shoveling mud and clearing debris proved physically exhausting, but interactions with residents reinforced the sense of purpose behind his efforts. While some personal or cultural items, like a damaged elephant figurine, could not be preserved, Peng observed that both volunteers and locals focused on salvaging what they could and restoring basic living conditions.
Both students said the experience went beyond physical labor.
Sung noted that the courage to step forward, even when unsure of one’s impact, was as important as the work itself. Peng highlighted the empathy and collaborative spirit that defined the relief effort.
