The Central Weather Bureau has issued a heavy rain warning for several days, yet a 30-person hiking team from New Taipei City still ventured out on Dragon Boat Festival to trek the Nenggao-Antongjun traverse of Nenggao Mountain. Today (the 12th), three members of the group fell behind and got lost, urgently contacting relatives who then reported the incident to police and firefighters. Due to poor signal in the mountainous area, they have been unable to reach their teammates. However, search and rescue personnel are still mobilizing to head up the mountain. Rescue efforts are currently on standby due to dangerously swollen rivers that are impassable.
Police and firefighters revealed that today, while the hiking team was traveling toward Nenggao South Peak, three individuals—Mr. Yang and Ms. Huang and Ms. Chen—reportedly got separated and lost around the saddle area of South Peak and the southern saddle grassland near Peak 3159. Mr. Yang managed to contact his relatives early this morning, who then called police and firefighters for help. It is known that the three are not injured but may be running short of water.
After receiving the report, police and firefighters attempted to contact the three missing hikers, but due to poor signal, they have still been unable to get through. Search and rescue teams continue trying to establish contact and are currently mobilizing. According to inquiries made with staff at Tianchi Mountain Lodge, the section from the Tunnyuan Trailhead to Tianchi Mountain Lodge experienced heavy rainfall, with occasional falling rocks. In addition, the water level of the South Creek has risen sharply, making it impassable.
Police and firefighters stated that they will try to contact the hiking team and guide them to retreat toward Tianchi. Meanwhile, firefighters’ search and rescue personnel are scheduled to depart from Ren'ai at 4:00 PM today, proceed to Tunnyuan, and then assess whether it is safe to continue. If conditions are deemed too dangerous, the team will withdraw and stand by, ready to return to the mountain for rescue when the situation allows. The fact that the hiking team chose to press on despite poor weather conditions has left both police and firefighters shaking their heads, also expressing concern about the hikers being stranded without adequate food supplies.
(China Times)