Philippine Tourists' Bus Overturns on Hehuan Mountain; Apple Devices Auto-Detect and Alert Authorities

(Central News Agency, reporter Zheng Weizhen, Nantou, 7th) Fifteen Filipino tourists took a medium-sized bus to visit Hehuan Mountain today. On the way down, the bus overturned on Provincial Highway 14, sending the driver and 16 passengers to the hospital. The fire department stated that they received an automatic alert from the tourists' Apple phones or watches, which detected the crash and dialed 119, prompting an immediate dispatch of rescue personnel.

The Nantou County Fire Department reported receiving the alert at 5:31 PM. A bus had overturned on the roadside at the 79-kilometer mark of Provincial Highway 14, with suspected injuries and people trapped. The department immediately dispatched personnel and vehicles for rescue and simultaneously notified volunteer firefighters for support.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found the bus had overturned on a platform about 3 meters below the roadside, with its wheels in the air. The driver and the 15 Filipino tourists had already escaped from the vehicle on their own.

After triage at the scene, 5 passengers had more obvious injuries and were given emergency treatment before being prioritized for hospital transport. The others had no apparent external injuries, but considering the force of the fall and rollover, firefighters still recommended they go to the hospital for examination.

The Ren'ai Precinct of the Nantou County Police Department stated in the evening that preliminary investigation suggests the driver, surnamed Zhang, lost control due to the steep slope and curves, causing the vehicle to leave the lane and fall down the embankment. A total of 16 people, including the driver and passengers, were sent to the hospital. Initial hospital diagnoses indicate one person has a cerebral hemorrhage, and two have more severe fractures. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Firefighters noted that the first alert was not from a public call, but from the tourists' Apple phones or smartwatches, which detected the crash and automatically dialed 119, allowing for an immediate rescue response. They reminded the public that mountain roads are muddy and slippery during the rainy season, urging drivers to slow down and drive cautiously to prevent accidents. (Editor: Xiao Bowen) 1150607