Intermittent rain in the Kaohsiung area caught some residents off guard. Those who had left home without umbrellas had to run for cover while using plastic bags and other items to shield themselves from the sudden downpour. (Photo by Hsieh Ming-tsuo)
A husband and wife from Taoyuan, surnamed Hsu, were fishing in the middle of the Zhonggang Stream in Miaoli when they were trapped on a sandbar after failing to notice the sudden rise in upstream water levels. (Photo courtesy of Li Wei)

Torrential rain hit the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli area in the afternoon of the 19th. Thirty-nine hikers from Taipei City were returning from a climb up Nanche Tian Mountain in Fuxing, Taoyuan, when they became trapped due to the sudden rise of the Yu’nei Stream. Police and firefighters set up ropes to help them cross the river to safety. In Sanwan, Miaoli, a couple was trapped on the riverbed of the Zhonggang Stream, but both incidents ended without casualties thanks to timely rescue efforts by firefighters.

The Shimen Reservoir in Taoyuan also began its first water release for regulation purposes this year at 11 p.m. last night. Wang Guoliang, deputy director of the North Region Water Resources Bureau, said that after the heavy afternoon rains, the reservoir’s inflow surged, reaching a water level of 243.53 meters by 7 p.m. Therefore, starting at 11 p.m., a regulated water release of 200 cubic meters per second was initiated, aiming to bring the water level down below 243 meters.

Qiu Yongshang, deputy head of the Fourth Division of the Taoyuan City Fire Department, said that the 39 hikers were descending Nanche Tian Mountain yesterday afternoon when they encountered a sudden downpour and the Yu’nei Stream rapidly swelled, trapping them on the mountain trail. Upon receiving the report, firefighters rushed to the scene, set up ropes, and helped the hikers cross the stream. By around 7:10 p.m., all were successfully rescued.

Yesterday evening, the Zhonggang Stream in Sanwan Township, Miaoli County, also experienced a sudden surge in water levels. A couple, both in their 50s and surnamed Hsu from Taipei City, were allegedly fishing without being familiar with the local conditions. When the waters rose quickly, they were unable to evacuate in time and became trapped on the riverbed.

Residents near the Shuitouwu Bridge upstream in Sanwan Township spotted the couple standing in the surging stream, unable to move. They quickly called for police and firefighter assistance. Rescue personnel used a throw rope gun to pull the couple back to shore. The rescuers expressed regret that a fishing trip had required emergency services.