Two men went hiking in Shuiyang Forest, located at the border of Nantou and Chiayi yesterday. One of them is suspected to have fallen off a slope and died. The Chiayi County Fire Bureau mobilized 18 personnel to go up the mountain, where they found the body and will transport it down the mountain overnight.
The Chiayi County Fire Bureau explained that Shuiyang Forest is a barrier lake formed after the 921 Earthquake. The local cedar forest died after being soaked in the lake water, creating a white forest of dead trees. Due to its beautiful scenery, it often attracts hikers.
Chen, a 52-year-old man, and Pan, a 46-year-old man, went hiking in Shuiyang Forest yesterday. Chen, 52, is suspected to have felt dizzy and fallen down a slope. His companion reported the incident to the Chiayi County Fire Bureau, which then transferred the case to the Nantou County Government Fire Bureau to dispatch rescuers.
Due to poor communication in the mountainous area and the inability of the informant to clearly specify the location of the incident, personnel from the Chiayi County Fire Bureau, Zhushan Police Precinct, and the Forestry Bureau’s Fenchihu Work Station, among others, set out in two groups at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. today to provide support.
Preliminary police investigations indicated that Chen felt unwell and dizzy during the hike, and accidentally fell down the slope.
Tsai Chien-an, the head of the Third Brigade of the Chiayi County Fire Bureau, stated that at around 1:50 p.m. today, the first rescue team discovered Chen’s body near the water outlet of Shuiyang Forest and began transporting the body down the mountain at 2:30 p.m.
Tsai added that the second rescue team also joined the first team at 4:35 p.m. to assist in carrying the body. Due to rain and fog in the mountains, they are expected to arrive at the entrance of the Shanlinxi Forest Road in Nantou County by 10 p.m. tonight. 1050516
(CNA)