A group of 38 hikers from Changhua County were climbing the popular trail above the Butterfly Waterfall in Puli Township, Nantou County yesterday when a 59-year-old female hiker surnamed Ko fell and went missing amid slippery conditions due to rain. Police, firefighters, and civilian rescue teams responded overnight. This morning (25th), at around 9 a.m., a helicopter from the Air Rescue Squadron spotted the missing hiker on the riverbed but she showed no signs of life. At approximately 11 a.m., her body was hoisted to the Zhushan Fire Department Training Center for examination by authorities.
Police investigation revealed that the woman surnamed Ko had entered the mountains with fellow hikers from the Wushe area. According to their original plan, they were to descend via the Butterfly Waterfall in Wugongli, Puli Township yesterday. However, heavy rain fell in the afternoon, and Ko is believed to have fallen off a cliff due to the slippery trail, leading to her disappearance. Her teammates reported the incident and called for help.
The Puli Central Monument Fire Station and the Nantou County Divine Eagle Mountain Search and Rescue Team searched overnight after receiving the report but found nothing due to poor visibility. This morning, the county fire department requested an aerial survey by helicopter. At around 9:30 a.m., the missing hiker, Ko, was spotted in the riverbed of the Butterfly Waterfall valley but showed no signs of life. Due to insufficient fuel, the helicopter returned, and rescuers then hiked down into the valley to reach the scene.
At around 10 a.m., the air rescue helicopter took off again to the accident site. At approximately 11:20 a.m., the body was hoisted, and the helicopter landed at the Zhushan Fire Training Center at around 11:30 a.m., where authorities examined the scene to determine the cause of the accident.
The Butterfly Waterfall is about 40 meters high, cascading straight down from a cliff. Surrounded by mist and cool air, butterflies can often be seen fluttering about. Named for its rich ecology and frequent visits by butterfly catchers in the past, the waterfall has become a hidden gem due to damage from multiple natural disasters, with rugged and challenging trails.
(China Times)