A hiking team of over 10 people from Taichung was passing through Sumida Cliff at the border between Taichung and Miaoli on the 30th when a male member surnamed Chen accidentally fell and was found with no signs of life. Rescue personnel from police and fire departments arrived at Xuenei Mountain Hut on the 31st to rest, and are expected to walk for four hours to the scene for rescue operations tomorrow morning.
The Second Brigade of the Taichung City Fire Bureau stated that they received a report around 4 p.m. on the 30th that a hiker had fallen off the cliff at Sumida Mountain on the Holy Ridge Trail. According to fellow hikers, the 62-year-old man surnamed Chen has been confirmed dead.
On the 31st, the fire bureau dispatched eight personnel from the Lishan, Heping, and Guguan squads, led by Squad Leader Tseng Chien-chih, to carry out the rescue mission. Four members from Miaoli County Fire Bureau, one from Snow Management Office, and two from the Seventh Precinct, totaling 15 rescuers, took a helicopter landing at Xueshan East Peak at 6 a.m., then hiked several hours to Xuenei Mountain Hut to rest. They plan to walk for four hours to the accident site tomorrow morning and use a helicopter to hoist the body down the mountain.
It is reported that this Taichung hiking team started their journey on the 28th from Guanwu Forest Recreation Area, stayed overnight at Jiujui Mountain Hut, passed by Mount Izu and Little Mount Baiyue on the 29th, and stayed at Bannan Mountain Hut. They originally planned to descend from Lishan on September 2nd and take a bus back to Taichung, but unfortunately encountered this accident.
(China Times)