As Typhoon Ragasa neared Taiwan, rain pounded a little-known lake in the upper reaches of a mountain range on the island’s eastern coast.

After nearly two days, the lake burst through its dams on Tuesday afternoon, unleashing torrents of water that careered down the side of a mountain and inundated the rural town of Guangfu, home to 10,000 people.

By Wednesday, at least 17 people had been confirmed dead and 17 others were missing.

Residents of Guangfu, a picturesque tourist destination, were left grappling with the damage wrought by Ragasa, the most powerful storm in the world so far this year. Many people who live in Guangfu are older adults.

Business owners in the town tried to salvage their properties, many of which were covered in mud and damaged by the torrents of water. The owner of one bookstore said that water had flooded in so fast that the glass windows of her shop were smashed.