A young woman who moved to a country plagued by natural disasters says nothing prepared her for Typhoon Ragasa.
Travel influencer Karolina Wachowicz relocated to Taiwan earlier this year after six years in Barcelona.
The 35-year-old left Spain because of growing hostility from the “Tourists Go Home” movement.
But her new life in Asia quickly took a terrifying turn when Super Typhoon Ragasa – also known as Nando – tore through the region last month (September).
The monster storm was the most intense of 2025, hammering Luzon Island in the Philippines before lashing Hong Kong, Macau, southern China and Taiwan.
Huge swathes of Hualien County were left underwater after the Matai’an Creek barrier lake burst, sending 60 million tonnes of water surging through streets and engulfing buildings up to the second floor.
At least 18 people were killed, with many more injured or missing.
“I’ve been living in Taiwan now for about six months and during this time I’ve experienced various natural phenomena – earthquakes, typhoons, temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, and humidity reaching almost 90 percent,” Karolina, who splits her time between Taipei and Hsinchu, told Need To Know.
“But I’ve never experienced a force as strong as Typhoon Ragasa.
“We received emergency alerts and advice to stay home.
“The rain was very heavy, and the wind practically blew us off our feet.
“Many local offices and schools were closed, and few people were seen on the streets during this time, for good reason.
“My friends were shocked by what happened.
“They said it was terrifying and difficult to come to terms with.
“People were also mobilising online, organising fundraisers for those affected in the east of the island.
“Earthquakes and typhoons are very common in Taiwan; it’s practically the norm.
“The authorities and citizens are well prepared, with warning and evacuation systems in place and secure infrastructure.
“Nevertheless, even they were caught off guard by Typhoon Ragasa.
“The force, intensity, and unpredictability of the elements surpassed our imaginations and preparedness.
“Surviving this super typhoon reminds me that while Taiwan is competent at dealing with the elements, nature’s forces can still surprise and leave tragic consequences.
“Even though I live in a relatively safe area, the events in the east of the island remind me of how fragile humanity is.”
