Taichung City Government will draft the “Mountain Hiking Management Autonomous Ordinance,” using measures such as restricting hiking times and mandating insurance to prevent people from forcibly hiking in bad weather. This will protect hikers’ safety and reduce the waste of rescue resources.
Recently, a hiker climbing Yuanduozhi Mountain in Heping District suffered a swollen ankle and couldn’t walk, prompting the Taichung City Fire Bureau to send a helicopter for rescue. It was later found that the hiker could still walk, leading to accusations of wasted public funds and public outcry. The city hopes the “Taichung City Mountain Hiking Management Autonomous Ordinance” will help prevent such cases.
Fire Bureau Chief Hsiao Huan-chang said the “Taichung City Mountain Hiking Management Autonomous Ordinance” will require legal permits for entering mountains and parks, mandate carrying GPS and communication gear, enforce self-safety preparations for hikers, and ensure team leaders have basic emergency medical capabilities.
Additionally, when typhoons approach, no new entry permits will be issued, and hikers already in the mountains will be required to descend early. This prevents rescuers from risking their lives in harsh weather and environments during search and rescue missions, avoiding wastage of national resources.
Hsiao Huan-chang pointed out that government resources are limited. Through this ordinance, a mountain hiking insurance system is expected to be established. The insurance mechanism would hire more professional mountain rescue personnel and cover helicopter dispatch costs, preventing arbitrary demands for helicopter rescues and conserving national resources. The mountain hiking insurance system will be included in the ordinance, and the central government is advised to revise related insurance regulations. 1050427
(Central News Agency)