TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — One mountaineer has died, and 16 await rescue after heavy snowfall on a mountain in Hualien County.
The 17-member mountaineering team was climbing Qilai East Ridge on Monday when a 58-year-old climber surnamed Lee (李) was found dead, per CNA. Due to snowfall, the remaining 16 members sought refuge in a small mountain cabin.
The team consisted of 14 mountaineers and three porters. They entered the Qilai trailhead on Saturday, planning to complete their journey at Yuewang Pavilion on Thursday.
On Monday morning, the team leader, surnamed Weng (翁), reported to the Hualien County Fire Department Lee had gone missing and called for a rescue. At 10 a.m., team members found Lee's body near a pond on the mountain path.
The Hualien County Fire Department dispatched an eight-member ground search and rescue team, led by Peng Ti-hsuan (彭第軒), from the Xinxiu Fire Brigade.
Weng requested an airlift on Wednesday after the group encountered heavy snowfall. As they were without snow gear, they sheltered in Panshi Zhongfeng Cabin.
The search and rescue team reached Chenggong Cabin, but due to heavy snow, withdrew about one kilometer back to Heishuitang Cabin to wait for better weather.
Lin Wu-cheng (林武正), commander of the Hualien County Fire Department First Corps, told CNA that mountain conditions were different from usual, with trails covered in snow. Lin said thick clouds and fog prevented helicopters from taking off on Wednesday.
The National Airborne Service Corps planned to carry out aerial reconnaissance on Thursday morning to finalize a rescue plan for the mountain climbers.
