Jeep Swept Away in Matai'an Creek; Construction Site Director Rescued Early Morning

(Central News Agency reporter Li Xianfeng, Hualien, 9th) Yesterday afternoon, a construction site director surnamed Deng was swept away and went missing while driving a Jeep in the Matai'an Creek in Hualien. In the evening, police and firefighters received a report of someone calling for help downstream. They used a drone with a thermal imaging camera to locate the person. The rescue operation was temporarily hindered due to the muddy riverbank sandbar, but after a risky effort, they successfully rescued Mr. Deng.

The Hualien Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency was carrying out sand-control projects in the Matai'an Creek. Due to the impact of a heavy rain advisory, the project had been suspended days earlier, and machinery had been moved to higher ground. However, considering that continuous rainfall could cause even greater flooding, the contractor, accompanied by two excavator operators, went to move the machinery to an even higher location yesterday afternoon.

During this process, the construction site director, Mr. Deng, was swept away while driving his Jeep. Rescue personnel overcame difficulties to cross the creek and check the vehicle, confirming that no one was trapped inside.

The Second Brigade of the Hualien County Fire Bureau stated that after receiving the report yesterday afternoon, they immediately assembled personnel and went to the rescue. At 9:21 PM yesterday, they received another report from a citizen that someone was calling for help downstream near the Ataomo section of the Matai'an Creek, and they immediately rushed to the scene.

Ge Weizhi, the captain of the Guangfu Fire Sub-station of the Second Brigade, stated that they used a drone with a thermal imaging camera to search and found a human image. After locating the coordinates, the rescue operation was temporarily hindered because the person in need was in a muddy area on the riverbank sandbar. Police, volunteer firefighters, and civilians worked together, risking crossing the creek, and successfully made contact with the person in need.

Ge Weizhi said that the injured person was conscious but weak. Firefighters used boats, ropes, and their numerical advantage to successfully rescue him at 4:39 AM this morning. Mr. Deng was immediately sent to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital for treatment. (Editor: Cai Jiamin) 1150609