On September 23, a barrier lake in Taiwan’s Hualien County burst, submerging the small township of Guangfu in mud and water. Within hours, volunteers poured in from across Taiwan: students, retirees, construction workers, and others. They carried shovels, power tools, and supplies. No one waited for government orders; they simply did what needed to be done.

Local authorities struggled to coordinate relief, slowed by partisan politics, miscommunication, and bureaucratic delays. Meanwhile, the volunteers pressed on. They cleared roads, salvaged homes, cooked for displaced families, and searched for the missing. Many had never been to Guangfu before.

This photo essay documents that effort, and the solidarity that defines Taiwanese society. Compassion runs deep, as does a refusal to be passive. Even when official channels faltered, people stepped up. Challenges may come to Taiwan, but the Taiwanese people don’t flinch.