A spring snowstorm left seventeen hikers from three separate climbing teams stranded in the mountains of Hualien and Miaoli counties. Yesterday, the Seagull Rescue Squadron of the Chiayi Air Force and the Tainan Air Police dispatched two helicopter missions to rescue all seventeen individuals, who fortunately suffered no major injuries.
The Chiayi Air Force Base reported that the two trapped teams—one in an unnamed mountain and the other on Pibida Mountain in Tai’an Township, Miaoli County—consisted of three and four members respectively. They had set out three days earlier on a planned seven-day trek in each location. Although all were experienced hikers, the sudden and powerful cold front brought heavy snow and strong winds, trapping them in the mountains. The night before, they separately contacted the National Search and Rescue Center for assistance.
The Chiayi Air Rescue Squadron received the alert at 6:30 a.m. yesterday and immediately launched a helicopter rescue mission. The Seagull helicopter first flew to the unnamed mountain to airlift the three hikers, then proceeded to Pibida Mountain to carry out the next rescue. At 8:30 a.m., it successfully transported all seven individuals to Dongshi Riverside Park in Taichung City, where ambulances were on standby to take over.
However, since the rescued hikers showed stable vital signs with no signs of hypothermia or other discomfort, and even those who initially reported altitude sickness returned to normal and refused hospital transport, all seven were discharged after landing and went home without seeking further medical care.