Three men from Taichung City went herb-picking in the Shouguan Mountain and Shoucheng Mountain areas of Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, five days ago. Not only did the trio get lost, but Yang also slipped and injured his waist. They called for help, prompting rescue teams to split into ground and air units to search the mountains. On the morning of the 10th, Zhou and Wang were found at a large landslide area below Shoucheng Mountain. The two were airlifted down the mountain in separate operations. Initial assessments indicate that both are conscious but physically weak. As for Yang, he told his teammates he would descend into the valley to find a way out, but he has not been found yet.
Nantou County Fire Bureau’s Second Brigade stated that Yang and his two friends got lost while hiking to pick herbs. Due to intermittent mobile phone signals, pinpointing their location was difficult. Based on the trio’s earlier descriptions, they were roughly trapped near a cliff with two cherry blossom trees nearby. An aerial survey by a rescue helicopter spotted a location on the way up Shoucheng Mountain that matched the description.
Previously, about 60 personnel from police, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, the Divine Eagle Search and Rescue Team, and the Forestry Bureau—both official and civilian rescue forces—were mobilized to search the area. Midway through the operation, Yang reportedly grew impatient waiting and decided to leave the group to descend into the valley in search of an exit. Today, with stable weather conditions, Air Rescue Squadron helicopters took off to search the missing trio’s last known location. Rescuers spotted one person lying down and another standing; the person on the ground was not wearing clothes. Due to low fuel, the helicopter returned to base to refuel before heading back to the scene. At 11:52 a.m., Zhou was successfully airlifted and taken to the Xinshe Base, then transferred to Taichung’s 803 Hospital for treatment. At 12:43 p.m., Wang was also successfully airlifted and flown to the Bixing Branch of Nantou County Government Fire Bureau. He was initially assessed as conscious but physically weak and was sent to Caotun Youmin Hospital for further medical observation.
Yang has not been found, and some ground search personnel remain in the mountains to continue the search.
(China Times)