The Chiayi County Fire Bureau reported that a felt earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 occurred at 1:43 p.m., with the epicenter reaching seismic intensity level 5 in Alishan, Chiayi County. The quake was strongly felt across most of Chiayi County and Chiayi City, with many residents running outside.
A team of eight hikers from the Haidong Community in Tainan City had planned to go trekking at Qianren Cave in Fengshan Village, Alishan Township, in the morning. When the earthquake struck, they were still en route. The group first heard loud rumbling sounds from the hillside — “Boom!” “Boom!” — prompting all eight to run forward. Liu Jinlu, who was fourth in line, was unfortunately grazed by a massive boulder rolling down the slope.
The impact of the boulder was powerful, and Liu Jinlu fell to the ground immediately. After the quake ended, his companions contacted the Chiayi County Fire Bureau for help. Due to the remote mountainous location and rugged terrain, rescue efforts were extremely difficult. A Sea Gull helicopter was eventually deployed to airlift him using a hoist to Chiayi Branch of Taichung Veterans General Hospital for emergency treatment. However, he was pronounced dead upon arrival as he had no breathing or heartbeat, and resuscitation efforts failed.
Personnel from the Chiayi County Fire Bureau and local rescue teams went to the site to escort the other hikers down the mountain. The companions were emotionally distraught and still in shock, declining to be interviewed. Cai Minseng, leader of the Fenchihu branch rescue squad that responded to the scene, said that according to accounts from the companions, the victim had been just one step away from safety. Had he taken one more step forward, he could have narrowly avoided the falling boulder and escaped death.
(CNA)
(Central News Agency)