Taipei: Taiwan on Thursday revised the death toll from Tuesday’s barrier lake overflow, triggered by heavy rains from Typhoon Ragasa, lowering the figure from 17 to 14, after duplicate cases had been mistakenly counted.

According to Ghana News Agency, 22 people remain missing in affected areas. The disaster in Hualien County’s mountains has left at least 54 injured.

In hard-hit Guangfu Township, large-scale search operations continued on Thursday, with some areas still under floodwaters as high as a full story.

On Wednesday, rescuers freed a six-year-old girl who was trapped on a roof beam, after floodwaters swept through her home. Authorities said the girl had been placed there by two elderly caregivers to keep her safe, but the two caregivers have since been reported missing.

On Thursday, President Lai Ching-te toured disaster-hit areas, pledging to do everything possible to find those still missing. Lai also ordered authorities to restore the levees damaged by the barrier lake’s dark, muddy waters within a month.

During Wednesday’s rescue operations, local reports said animals buried in mud, including puppies, were also saved. The government has set up a disaster relief fund, with many officials donating their salaries.

Meanwhile, authorities continued to monitor the barrier lake’s water level and the risk of further overflow, with drone operations planned as weather permits.

The Matai’an Creek Barrier Lake, formed after an earlier typhoon in July, measured 200 metres high and held 91 million tons of water, roughly 36,400 standard swimming pools. On Thursday, it dropped to 95 metres with 13 million tons remaining.

More than 8,000 villagers had already been evacuated earlier in the week, as Typhoon Ragasa approached.