A Taiwanese couple surnamed Ou, who live in Tainan, have been missing since climbing the Holy Ridge Trail in late November last year. Their sons, the Ou brothers, came specially to Taichung today (the 12th) to appeal to Mayor Hu Zhiqiang, pleading for continued efforts to search for their parents. Hu Zhiqiang immediately promised that the Fire Bureau would do its best to assist in the search.
Brothers Ou Zonghan and Ou Zongze, accompanied by Taichung City Councilor Chen Qinglong, went to the council to appeal to Hu Zhiqiang, hoping the municipal government would help in the rescue operation so that their parents, who went missing during a hike in Taichung, could find their way home as soon as possible. The Ou brothers said their father, Ou Renqin, and mother, Yan Guixiang, entered the trailhead from Wuling Farm on November 25 last year, climbed Chiyou Mountain, and then planned to hike the Holy Ridge Trail to reach Dabajianshan (Great Blade Mountain), but have been missing ever since with no contact. The brothers held up a banner that read “Bring My Parents Home, Bury Them in Peace” along with their petition letter, and at the emotional parts of their plea, they couldn’t help but kneel down. Hu Zhiqiang immediately stopped them and comforted the two, saying the municipal government would go all out.
Ou Zonghan expressed gratitude for the rescuers risking danger and braving the bitter cold in the search, but as their parents have been missing for over three months and the disappearance occurred in the border area between Taichung City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County, the brothers hope the Fire Bureau can assist in searching for their parents similar to how another search team looked for Huang Qihan, who died while climbing Dajianshan. They are asking for help from civilian search teams to continue the search.
Hu Zhiqiang said he could very much understand their feelings. Although by law the fire department can stop searching after 21 days, sometimes finding them can bring even more sorrow—but it’s still better than not searching at all. Regarding the Ou brothers’ wish at least to recover their parents’ remains, he said he couldn’t guarantee they would be found, but asked the Fire Bureau to assist fully.
(Broadcasting Corporation of China)