Typhoon Dujuan is expected to hit on the 28th. A total of 17 people from three groups — including alumni, teachers, and members of the public from National Ilan University — had applied to enter the Daba North Ridge Line and had not yet descended. On the afternoon of the 28th, due to worsening weather, the 17 individuals were trapped in the Shenmu Group area of Zhenxibao in Jianshi Township. A rescue team formed by police, firefighters, and volunteer mountain police from Hsinchu County reached all 17 hikers this morning at 8 AM. All individuals are in good condition and are currently being assisted in descending the mountain.
The Hsinchu County Police Bureau stated that the Hengshan Police Precinct received a report at 2:30 PM yesterday from a hiker surnamed Huang, reporting that three teams totaling 17 people had been climbing the Daba North Ridge Line. Due to increased rainfall in the mountainous area and the sudden rise of the Taigang River upstream of Zhenxibao, the 17 hikers were trapped in the Shenmu Group area and awaiting rescue.
Ten minutes later, Yu Shipin, chief of the Taigang Police Office of Hengshan Police Precinct, led Officer Ye Huazhen and 11 personnel from the fire department and mountain volunteer police, forming a rescue team. They set off from the Taigang Tribe in Xiuluan Village, carrying all necessary rescue equipment and supplies for the mountain operation.
However, the Zhulin 60 Line to the Zhenxibao access road was heavily damaged. Vehicles were unable to proceed beyond the 4 km mark on the Zhenxibao access road due to a landslide, forcing the rescue team to hike on foot from the Zhenxibao Shenmu Group parking lot to reach the hiking trailhead.
Police reported that officers and mountain volunteer police used machetes to clear a path along the trail for about 1 km before reaching a river valley (approximately 20 meters wide), where they found the stranded hikers unharmed. However, due to fierce winds, heavy rain, and fast-flowing water, coupled with approaching darkness, the rescue became difficult. The team instructed the hikers to first find a safe location near the river valley to set up camp.
The three hiking teams consisted of 8, 5, and 4 members respectively. Last night, they set up camp in three separate groups at the first and second river valleys. This morning, the rescue team risked crossing the river and successfully made contact with all three groups. All hikers are in good health. By 9 AM, they were assisted in river crossing, hiking, and then transported down the mountain via vehicles.
(China Times)