Nantou county: President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai extended their condolences to the family of a firefighter who lost his life while attempting to rescue stranded tourists from a capsized raft in Nantou County's Zhuoshui River.
According to Focus Taiwan, the firefighter, identified by his surname Wu, died in the line of duty during a rescue mission. In a social media post, President Lai expressed his sorrow over Wu's death and instructed the Ministry of the Interior and National Fire Agency to provide full assistance and compensation to Wu's family. Premier Cho also paid tribute to Wu, offering his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Wu, a 50-year-old firefighter from the Nantou County Fire Bureau's Xinyi Precinct, tragically fell into the river when his inflatable rescue boat capsized. The incident occurred while he and a colleague were trying to reach stranded rafters. Wu was later found unconscious near Shuanglong Bridge, approximately 12 kilometers downstream from the incident site. Despite resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Nantou County Fire Bureau reported receiving a distress call on Sunday about five tourists rafting in the upper Zhuoshui River's Wujie area. The tourists' raft overturned near Sunhai Bridge in Xinyi Township due to strong currents and water released from the Wujie Dam. Two tourists managed to escape unaided, while three others were left stranded on a sandbar. The bureau initiated a rescue operation, confirming the safety of the stranded individuals via phone.
The rescue was halted after nightfall on Sunday due to adverse weather conditions, including low visibility, dense fog, and strong currents. The operation resumed on Monday, when Wu and another rescuer attempted to reach the sandbar. Unfortunately, their inflatable boat capsized due to the powerful current, sweeping Wu downstream, while his partner swam to safety.
Efforts to rescue the remaining stranded tourists continued into Tuesday morning. In a statement, the county bureau expressed deep regret over the tragic accident and committed to securing compensation and benefits for Wu's family, as well as assisting with funeral arrangements.