TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Police on Wednesday (Aug. 14) denied allegations they had been slow to start their search for a German literature professor who has been missing in east Taiwan for over four months. 

Ralf Klausnitzer disappeared in Hualien County while on an academic exchange program in late March and his family has accused police of delaying rescue efforts. On Wednesday, Hualien County Police Bureau said it began investigating on the day the report was filed, but the search was temporarily halted due to a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck on April 3, per CNA. 

In March, the 57-year-old visited Taiwan for academic exchanges and lectures at Tamkang University. After completing his work in Taipei, he traveled to Hualien for sightseeing but university officials lost contact with him. 

When he failed to board his return flight to Germany as scheduled, Tamkang University reported his disappearance to the police on April 2.

On Wednesday, Hualien County Police Bureau Foreign Affairs Section Chief Chen Yi-wen (陳奕彣) told the media that after receiving the report on April 2, police initiated an investigation. Based on a laptop and travel information left at the scene, they speculated that Klausnitzer might have gone to Taroko National Park.

Chen said surveillance footage from a bus showed Klausnitzer boarding the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Taroko Route at 7:50 a.m. on March 26 and disembarking at Tianxiang Village Station in Xiulin Township at 9:04 a.m. A search was planned for the next morning, but the April 3 earthquake caused disruptions to access roads, power, and communication, forcing the search to be suspended, said Chen. 

After roads and power were restored along the Central Cross-Island Highway, police obtained surveillance footage from Tianxiang Village, revealing Klausnitzer entering Xiangde Temple at 9:27 a.m. on March 26 and leaving at 9:47 a.m. No further footage of him was found, and he did not return to the city by bus.

Between April and May, police conducted seven searches in the area, visiting local residences and analyzing possible routes, but no trace of him was found.

Chen said each search operation lasted five to six hours and included drone searches along the Liwu River Basin and surrounding areas, but no signs of Klausnitzer were detected.

In May, police in Xincheng Township released images of Klausnitzer, asking the public to provide any leads, promising to resume the search if new information was received. However, Chen said that no tips have been received so far.

Klausnitzer’s parents sent an open letter to the media claiming that their son was discovered missing from his hotel the day after his disappearance, but no investigation was immediately launched until Tamkang University reported it on April 2. 

Chen denies this and said two of Klausnitzer’s sons visited Hualien to search for their father on June 9. He said police assisted them with accommodations and a visit to the Taroko area. 

As for the family's accusations of unnecessary repeated DNA collection and unprofessional behavior, including laughing and taking photos during the process, Chen said DNA collection requires the signed consent of family members and multiple saliva samples were taken to ensure accuracy. 

Chen insisted that no inappropriate behavior occurred. He concluded by saying that although the golden window for rescue has passed, the incident is still being treated as a missing persons case. 

Hualien County Police Bureau has requested that the Taroko National Park Headquarters and local police continue monitoring the situation, and urged the public to provide information.