In early last month, firefighter Li Ying-hsun from the Taipei City Fire Department went missing during a mountain climb. After 18 days of large-scale search and rescue efforts with no results, and the deployment of substantial manpower and resources, the search has now been suspended. The firefighters involved had to overcome treacherous conditions and endure immense pressure, and many adopted a “better safe than sorry” attitude toward seeking divine guidance or fortune-telling.
Wang Ming-chung, head of the Disaster Relief and Ambulance Second Brigade of the Hualien County Fire Department, stated that Li Ying-hsun went missing in the Nanshan-zi Mountain area of Wanrong Township. The terrain is steep and rarely visited—even local mountain guides said their last entry into the area was six years ago. Coupled with sudden weather changes, the rescuers faced extreme hardships.
With rapidly changing weather and rugged mountain paths, the search operation faced numerous challenges. Over the 18-day search, six team members were injured and one member of a civilian search and rescue team died in the line of duty. Wang Ming-chung pointed out that even with the help of local guides to “clear the way,” the search yielded no results. The mountains were so steep that there was no space to set up camps, and team members could only rest as best they could in the rain, wrapped in sleeping bags—but they still gave their all in the search effort.
Wang Ming-chung also revealed that because the search had yielded no results after many days, the family turned to fortune-telling and believed they had received a message in a dream that Li Ying-hsun would be found by a firefighter nicknamed “Little Ge” who was part of the search team. It was noted that “Little Ge” had actually passed by Li Ying-hsun twice. However, another deity indicated that the mountain god was angry and would not allow Li Ying-hsun to be found. Concerned about the immense pressure on “Little Ge,” Wang Ming-chung contacted him via radio and asked him to come down from the mountain and cease participation in this search operation.
The Hualien County Fire Department stated that the 18-day search mission in the Nanshan-zi Mountain area involved as many as 14 supporting agencies and groups that specially participated in the effort. A total of 953 personnel and 85 helicopter sorties were mobilized, with overall costs including manpower and materials amounting to NT$8.68 million. On the same day in the 10th, the search for a police officer who went missing on Hehuanshan East Peak lasted 14 days, involving 584 personnel and 8 helicopters in an expanded search effort, but also failed to locate the missing person.
County Chief Fu Kun-chi yesterday presented letters of appreciation at the county government auditorium and, in his capacity as commander of the volunteer firefighters, awarded meal allowances to express gratitude to the search and rescue personnel who participated in the search for both Li Ying-hsun and Pan Fu-wan, a police officer from the Taichung City Police Department who went missing on Hehuanshan East Peak.
He stated that the county government is actively promoting the legislation of the “Hualien County Mountain Activities Management Autonomous Ordinance,” which has currently been submitted to the Hualien County Council for review. It is hoped that through the advancement of this mountain activities ordinance, hikers will be able to ascend the mountains equipped with proper gear, thereby effectively enhancing the safety of those entering the mountains.