A rafting business manager surnamed Yu (游) was released on bail of NT$100,000 and rafting instructor surnamed Chen (陳) was released without bail today, amid an investigation into a rafting accident this weekend that left one dead and five wounded.
The incident occurred on Yilan County's Annong River (安農溪) on Sunday afternoon, throwing all nine people aboard into the water.
The deceased was a 59-year-old woman, surnamed Chen (陳), who was found unresponsive and rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Photo courtesy of a reader
The woman’s family said that the rafting operator began the trip despite the river’s strong current, and that the coach later noticed a hole in the raft, but still proceeded, prosecutors said.
There was a 30cm tear in the rubber raft, they said, but whether it was caused by something piercing the raft during the trip requires further investigation.
Prosecutors questioned witnesses, rescuers and others involved to clarify the sequence of events.
Yu is suspected of negligent homicide, they said.
Yu said that the passengers were all wearing helmets and lifejackets, and promised to help the victim’s family with the aftermath.
Chen and her family had booked three rubber rafts and set off on the Annong River along with two other rafts at about 1pm on Sunday.
Chen was aboard the second raft, which capsized at about 1:42pm beneath a bridge at the intersection of Section 6, Annong N Road and Ji'an Road in Sansing Township (三星).
Chen drifted 1.7km away before being rescued and was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.
Five other passengers sustained injuries and received medical treatment.
It was the most serious accident in the 30-year history of rafting along the Annong River.
The Yilan County Government has temporarily suspended all rafting activities along the river.
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
DIPLOMACY: It is Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s first visit to Taiwan since he took office last year, while Eswatini’s foreign minister is also paying a visit A delegation led by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo arrived in Taiwan yesterday afternoon and is to visit President William Lai (賴清德) today. The delegation arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 4:55pm, and was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). It is Arevalo’s first trip to Taiwan since he took office last year, and following the visit, he is to travel to Japan to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arevalo said at the airport that he is very glad to make the visit to Taiwan, adding that he brings an important message of responsibility
RSS