Fourteen hikers who were climbing the North Section II of Central Peak were originally scheduled to descend on the 11th, but due to consecutive days of heavy rain, swollen rivers, and multiple road collapses, they were stranded at the Erwu Creek campsite. Eight police and firefighters set out at 4:00 a.m. on the 12th to search for them and successfully located the group at 1:55 p.m. All individuals are safe and are expected to descend on the 13th.
The fire department received a report on the afternoon of the 11th that a group of eight hikers, led by team leader Hong Huajun, had set out on the 7th to climb the North Section II of Central Peak and were supposed to return on the 11th but had gone missing. Unexpectedly, at 8:00 p.m. that same day, another report came in about six more hikers, led by team leader Lu Yifeng, who had also lost contact. Both groups were following the same route and timeline, taking the abandoned Route 730 Forest Road, ascending from Shanmen Mountain, passing through Wuming Mountain, Ghost Gate Peak, and staying at the Erwu Creek campsite.
Rescue personnel set out in three batches totaling 16 people starting at 4:00 a.m. on the 12th. Their vehicles could only proceed as far as the 3 km point of Route 730 Forest Road due to a landslide, so they continued on foot. After walking for four to five hours, they found the missing hikers near the Erwu Creek campsite at 1:55 p.m. All individuals are safe, though the group actually turned out to have 15 members instead of 14.
The rescue team reported that the fourteen hikers are in good physical condition. The team arranged for the hikers to set up camp nearby, and they will be escorted back on foot to the 3 km point early this morning, where they will be picked up by vehicle to descend the mountain.