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They arrived by train, car and motorbike, dressed for work and carrying shovels.

Students, monks, and retirees. Exercise regulars, overseas workers, families bringing along youngsters, plus travelers. When groups comprising many people disembarks their carriages, a crowd of people cheer “jiayou”, an expression to motivate which is equivalent to “add oil”.

Dubbed ”digging champions”, they arrived to Guangfu by the thousands, as helpers ready to help post-typhoon destroyed a barrier and released huge amounts of water, mud and silt devastating the local community.

Recently, disaster had struck this small town in Hualien, a beautiful district on Taiwan’s east coast which has historically been a magnet for tourists. Peripheral areas of the intense cyclone, Ragasa, poured torrential rain throughout the zone, and that day it breached a risky dam within the local waterway. The lake, resulting from slope failure during summer, was being watched closely and authorities predicted breaching was likely, but the result surpassed predictions. Over 15 million tons of water came down, sending a tsunami of viscous material through the town. A minimum of 18 persons lost their lives.

Dirt and debris stacks up throughout avenues, as locals remove contents from ground floor dwellings. Wrecked vehicles are piled in corners, and the athletic ground is buried beneath a metre of mud. The devastation intensifies near the waterway, where some houses in countryside areas are buried entirely. The bulk of casualties took place locally.

‘They only desire to aid the community’

After the event, and the search and rescue operation has dwindled, precipitation ceased. Mud along streets remains dense, sucking boots from feet, producing scents, cooking in the hot sun. Portions of soil hardened into a fine dust, polluting the environment by the transport hub. Volunteers yell across groups, leading volunteers to supply sorting groups and assistance units supporting households in the vicinity.

Yet citizens chuckle and cheering each other on. The vast majority came from outside. Specifically that day – the first day during holiday period – more than 30,000 volunteers traveled on trains, multiplying local resident numbers. Additional transport became available, and soon after traffic controls got established to manage the arrival.

Hundreds of police officers and soldiers work locally, in addition to emergency personnel from religious organizations, coordinating approximately ten thousand helpers. Certain helpers have answered online requests from residents, or come directly to properties of friends or relatives. Many are walking around with shovels seeking someone who needs help clearing spaces.

“Numerous participants, they simply wish to support,” states a charity representative Scott Liu.

The intention is good and largely beneficial, but has been chaotic. On various streets, hundreds of volunteers walk along streets blocked by sludge and remains, as vehicles, motorcycles and equipment avoid the crowds.

“Lacking coordination, it might hinder people trying to do the rescue work, and it would slow things down,” a firefighter says, but adds that it hasn’t been too bad.

‘Official representatives had come here’

Across town supporters have been welcomed enthusiastically by residents.

One resident is removing final debris from his parents’ home. This individual lives outside, mentioning his parents survived by moving to upper levels. A water mark stays at significant height on the walls, not quite reaching the paper calendar remaining unchanged from that date. Inside is mostly empty currently, however externally is piled high, waiting for professionals to remove it again. He states without helpers, the situation would persist within debris.

“72 hours post the incident, no authorities arrived whatsoever,” comments the individual. “Yet supporters came in, early dawn. They mentioned they were from Tainan from another region.”

Others share this view expressing dissatisfaction regarding official reaction. While disasters typically strain capabilities, this event has sparked an unsavoury fight regarding responsibility among local leaders and federal administration, having opposing affiliations. The biggest safety instruction nationally was issued through official channels a day before the lake burst, but there are issues with enforcement.

Local authorities said the enlargement of the evacuation zone – shortly before – was too late, and citizens required guidance to leave, rather than go to a higher floor. Federal administration argued authorities delivered various notices but that the county had responsibility for execution. Government head Cho Jung-tai said the government would investigate the reasons didn’t happen specific zones.

Of the 18 people who perished, nearly everyone were seniors choosing to remain in their homes, some drowning at ground level, based on regional sources.

There were several emergency warnings issued, including the day prior, according to reports. Yet analyses shifted repeatedly, and various citizens claim insufficient crisis recognition, while older community should have been doorknocked if they missed public announcements or get messages.

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