The Ruifang Police Precinct of New Taipei City located five lost hikers in Houtong this afternoon using mobile phone positioning. The precinct chief also gifted them a sky lantern as a goodwill gesture to offer blessings and ease their anxiety.
This afternoon at 2 PM, the Ruifang Precinct of the New Taipei City Police Department received a report that five hikers were lost in Houtong, two of whom are Canadian Filipinos.
The hikers got off at Houtong Railway Station and were hiking from the Sandiaoling Trail in Ruifang District toward Dahu Station in Pingxi District when they became lost in the mountains. Since they had phone signal, they called for help.
Police instructed the lost hikers to stay put and not wander around to avoid complicating search efforts. Officers also used mobile positioning systems to narrow the search area. After about an hour of searching, officers from Shifen Precinct finally found the hikers in the Wufen Mountain area.
Shifen Precinct Chief Hsu Hui-jun also personally bought the hikers a sky lantern to offer blessings and calm their nerves, successfully conducting a bit of people-to-people diplomacy. 1030617
(CNA)