Rescue Personnel Call for Laws to Be Amended 花蓮山區坍方民眾仍登山 搜救人員盼修法

Landslides have occurred in several mountainous regions in Hualien after several days of heavy rain. However, people are undeterred and still heading to these areas to go mountain climbing. Search and rescue personnel hope the government can amend mountaineering regulations to reflect extreme weather.

A group of tourists from Taipei got stranded on a mountain in Hualien on Nov. 6 after landslides blocked their path. The police sent personnel to rescue them. The rescue operation was extremely dangerous, but luckily no rescue personnel sustained injuries.

Lin Cheng-ying, Captain, Zhuole Police Station, Hualien County PD: “Thirty-two tourists were stranded on the Walami Trail and were scheduled to take the 4 p.m. train back to Taipei. They were afraid of missing their train, so they asked the police for help.”

Under Hualien's autonomous regulations on mountaineering, the government won't prohibit entry onto mountains even after the Central Weather Bureau issues an extremely heavy rain warning. A ban won't be announced until a level 2 disaster response center is set up.

Li Lung-sheng, Director, Disaster Rescue Section, Hualien County FB: “There have been a total of 11 accidents on mountains during September, October, and November, and we rescued over 100 people. This has been a huge burden on our personnel.”

Many people heading to the mountains go ahead with the itineraries despite dangerous situations because they already obtained permission to enter and have lodging reservations. Search and rescue personnel hope the government can amend related regulations.

Jen Jo-nan, Squad Leader, Urban Search & Rescue. Hualien County Gov't: “Regulations should keep up with the times and incorporate changes from extreme weather. We need to make changes or discuss this further.”

Volunteer firefighters suggest banning people from entering mountains whenever an extremely heavy rain warning is issued. Those who ignore the warnings and end up needing rescue should be responsible for the entire cost of the rescue mission, and any loss of human life must be investigated.

這是發生在6日的卓溪鄉瓦拉米步受困案件，一群來自台北的遊客因山區道路落石坍方無法出來，警方出動人馬將人員全數帶出，過程中險象環生，所幸沒有人員受傷。

花蓮玉里分局卓樂派出所所長林正穎指出：「132名遊客困在瓦拉米步道，且在16時要搭火車趕回台北，深怕無法如期而歸故請求警方協助。」

沒有颱風，但極端氣候的時雨量越來越驚人，而根據花蓮縣登山自治條例規定，在中央氣象局發布豪大雨特報後並不會禁止入山，必須等到二期災害應變中心開設時才會發布禁令。

花蓮縣消防局災害搶救科長李龍聖說道：「9、10、11月份的山域事故，發生的件數總共有11件，我們救災人數大概有100多人次，造成我們人員一個滿大的負擔。」

因為沒有禁令，部分登山客因考量再申請入山或是登記山屋會排很久，才會選擇冒險，結果就是讓救災人員疲於奔命，呼籲主管單位能夠修改相關規定。

花蓮縣搜救大隊分隊長任若男表示：「因為我們氣候極端的變化，當然法令面會當然會與時俱進，來做一個變革，或者是進一步去研商或討論。」

義消則是建議，在發布豪大雨特報時就該禁止入山，如果硬要闖入需要救援，就該負責救援費用，一旦涉及人命損傷也必須追究。