Tragedy on Jade Mountain: Hikers Feared Lost After Fall Into Deep Gorge

Search and Rescue Operation Underway Following Incident on Taiwan's Highest Peak

A tragic incident has unfolded on Yushan (Jade Mountain), Taiwan's highest peak, involving two hikers who are feared to have fallen into a deep gorge. The incident occurred earlier today during their ascent of the main peak and North Peak. Authorities are responding to the suspected accident.

The hikers were reportedly on the "Devil's Slope" section of the trail, a challenging incline located at the junction between the main and North peaks. A broken hiking stick was discovered at the scene, along with signs suggesting a fall into the valley below. Following the reports, a helicopter from the National Airborne Service Corps conducted an aerial survey this afternoon. At a depth of 380 meters below the site where the hiking stick was found, the helicopter crew spotted what appeared to be the two missing hikers.

The incident comes amid recent cold weather in Taiwan, with snow and ice conditions prevalent in the high mountains, leading to a series of incidents involving hikers. Yushan had 15 centimeters of snow in the previous days, causing difficulty for the hikers. A fellow hiker descending from the summit noticed the broken hiking stick and signs of a fall at approximately 10:40 AM today. The Nantou County Fire Department has been notified, and along with Yushan National Park Headquarters, they are planning a rescue operation for tomorrow.