Heavy rainfall in Hualien’s mountainous areas has caused rivers to swell. Four hikers on the South Cross-Island Highway were wading through the Xinwulai River when one man, along with his backpack, was swept away by the floodwaters, while another became trapped on a sandbank.
The Hualien County Fire Bureau received a distress call around 11:00 a.m. from a member of the public reporting that four hikers had been near the Xinwulai Bridge on the South Cross-Island Highway. One male hiker, along with his backpack, was washed away by the flood, another hiker was trapped on a sandbank, and the remaining two managed to escape.
The Hualien County Fire Bureau’s Guanshan Brigade has rushed to the scene to conduct rescue operations. A interception point has been set up at the Chulai Bridge downstream to search for the person swept away. Additionally, efforts are being made to use a throw rope gun to assist in rescuing the hiker trapped on the sandbank. 1030613
(CNA)