During typhoons or flood seasons each year, it’s common for people to ignore warnings and venture into mountains or go sea fishing, leading to emergencies that force local governments to deploy significant manpower and resources for rescue operations, wasting public funds. Following Taichung, Nantou, and Hualien, Yilan County will also establish an ordinance requiring individuals who engage in unauthorized or warned-against activities that result in emergencies to cover the associated rescue costs.
Yilan County Deputy Magistrate Wu Zecheng stated that general rescue operations are the government’s responsibility—for example, if a residential fire occurs, the fire department will dispatch personnel and vehicles to extinguish the fire and conduct rescues without charging the public. Therefore, if someone encounters an accident during routine activities like hiking and requires government assistance, it is the government’s duty to help, and there’s no issue with that.
Wu Zecheng said that if weather warnings have been issued and individuals proceed with hiking, fishing, or other activities without approval or despite being advised against it, resulting in emergencies, the mobilization of public resources for rescue operations leads to a waste of disaster relief assets. In addition to penalties under the Disaster Prevention and Rescue Act, the related rescue costs will also be borne by the individuals involved. He has instructed the county fire department and other relevant agencies to promptly draft and establish such an ordinance.
Xu Songyi, Director of the Yilan County Fire Bureau, stated that Yilan County averages about 5 to 7 mountain or water rescue operations each year, with each operation mobilizing at least 20 to 30 personnel. If a helicopter is deployed, each flight costs NT$100,000, and when adding the expenses of private professional rescue teams, the total cost is quite substantial.
(China Times)