The Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau launched the “Kaohsiung 119” app last December. Through the app, users’ GPS (Global Positioning System) data can be automatically transmitted to the 119 emergency response center, allowing firefighters to quickly pinpoint the user’s location. On the 6th, hiker Ms. Wang got lost on Mount Weiliao. After calling 119 to report the incident, she was guided to install the emergency reporting app, which enabled the search and rescue team to successfully locate her — marking the first successful rescue using the app’s positioning feature.
“When you’re lost in the mountains, where there’s no village ahead or shop behind, the first thing people think of is to call 119!” The Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau noted that at 4 p.m. on the 6th, they received a report from Ms. Wang stating that she was lost on the hiking trail of Mount Weiliao. A four-person advance team, led by Petty Officer Yiman of the Maolin Fire Station, immediately set out lightly equipped.
However, to ensure they could accurately determine Ms. Wang’s location, firefighters asked her to stay calm and wait for rescue in place. Personnel at the 119 Disaster Relief and Ambulance Command Center guided Ms. Wang to download the “Kaohsiung 119” app and send a short message report to 119. Since sending a text message also transmits the sender’s latitude and longitude, the combined information helped pinpoint Ms. Wang’s location. This enabled the advance team to quickly reach her, and by 6 p.m., she was successfully guided down the mountain.
Lost hiker Ms. Wang said the Kaohsiung 119 app is very user-friendly — just press one button to send a message, then stay put in a safe spot, and firefighters will quickly find you. This app is really amazing.
The fire bureau explained that the reporting app not only allows 119 to quickly determine your location, but also enables GPS transmission via text message reporting. After reporting, users can also upload photos or live images from the scene. Fully integrating smartphone capabilities, this app is considered the most user-centric solution that provides crucial reporting information, significantly reducing the time needed to confirm the caller’s address.