Liu Jinlu, a resident of Tainan City, went mountain climbing in Alishan today but unfortunately died after being hit by falling rocks during an earthquake. His family complained that no helicopter was dispatched immediately, delaying the rescue.

A group of eight from the Haidong Community Mountaineering Team in Tainan City had planned to go hiking at Qianren Cave in Fengshan Village, Alishan Township in the morning. When the earthquake struck, the group, which was still en route, first heard a loud “boom, boom!” from the hillside. The eight immediately started running forward, but Liu Jinlu, who was in the fourth position, was unfortunately grazed by a huge boulder that rolled down the slope. Despite being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, he was pronounced dead.

Liu Jinlu was sent to the Chiayi Branch of Taichung Veterans General Hospital for emergency treatment. Cai Zhenghan, director of the emergency room, stated that the patient had no breathing or heartbeat upon arrival and could not be revived despite resuscitation efforts. The deceased suffered a hematoma on the back of the head, severe contusions on the left chest, combined with hemothorax and pneumothorax, as well as a 2–3 cm open wound on the left chest.

Relatives and friends of Liu Jinlu who live in Tainan City rushed to the hospital upon learning he was receiving emergency treatment. Upon hearing the tragic news of his death, they could not hide their grief. Liu’s younger brother complained that no helicopter was dispatched for the rescue immediately, adding that the normally healthy deceased might have had a chance of survival if one had been deployed right away.

A friend of the deceased surnamed Zhuang pointed out that Liu Jinlu had joined the Haidong Community Mountaineering Team about four or five years ago and would often go hiking with other team members whenever the weather was good. In the afternoon, after being informed by other team members who had gone to Alishan, he immediately notified the family of the deceased. He himself did not go to Alishan because he was participating in a religious pilgrimage.

Mr. Zhuang said that he had originally planned to go to Fengshan in Alishan with the family, but after learning that Liu Jinlu’s condition was critical, he and the family hurried to the hospital.

The Chiayi County Fire Bureau stated that after the earthquake occurred, they received a rescue report from Alishan at 1:52 p.m. and applied to the National Fire Agency for helicopter rescue assistance at 2:05 p.m. There was no delay in the reporting process.

The Chiayi Air Force Base stated that the rescue team of the 455th Tactical Fighter Wing received the report at 3:05 p.m. about a hiker who had been hit by falling rocks due to the earthquake, showed no signs of life, and whose body could not be retrieved, thus urgently requiring rescue. The team was dispatched at 3:15 p.m., arrived at the target area at 3:30 p.m., and began searching. At 4:20 p.m., the body was lifted by hoist onto the aircraft. After examination by the medical personnel on board, it was confirmed that the patient had multiple external injuries and no signs of life.

In addition, a female driver surnamed Guo who was injured by falling rocks was immediately taken to Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital for surgery. The patient was unconscious, had a fractured skull, cerebral hemorrhage, facial bone fractures, and pubic bone fractures. The skull fracture caused brain injury, putting her life in danger. 1020602

(CNA)