Summer Drowning Prevention: Miaoli City Launches River Patrols and Installs Multilingual Warning Signs

With the peak summer swimming season approaching, Miaoli City Government has mobilized local neighborhood watch teams to conduct river patrols and rescue operations along the Houlong River throughout the summer vacation period. Additionally, multilingual 'No Swimming' warning signs have been installed along the riverbank, aiming for the ultimate goal of 'zero drowning deaths'.

Today, Miaoli City Government held a water deity worship and blessing ceremony at the square of the Qiaotou Bogong Temple beside Touwu Bridge. Six community watch teams were gathered and officially commissioned as the Miaoli City River Patrol Team. The patrol and rescue mission will run from July 1 to August 31, spanning 62 days, with the primary objective of preventing drowning incidents and providing emergency aid.

Miaoli Mayor Yu Wen-chung stated that the Houlong River, flowing through Miaoli City, features a steep gradient and rapid flow between Guishan Bridge and Beishi Bridge, classifying it as a high-risk water zone. Past years have seen repeated drowning accidents. The mayor urged parents to closely monitor their children's whereabouts during summer break and arrange safe recreational activities, emphasizing that no one should swim in dangerous waters. He also called on the public to intervene immediately if they spot children playing in the river.

Mayor Yu noted that the city has established four emergency rope-rescue stations along the Houlong River at locations beneath Guishan Bridge, Xindong Bridge, Yuqing Bridge, and near the model airplane field. In the event of a drowning incident, the public should first shout for help and use the rescue ropes or nearby lifesaving equipment—never attempt to enter the water directly to save someone.

Recognizing that previous warning signs were in Chinese only, potentially leaving foreign workers unaware of the dangers, the city has this year added multilingual signs in Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.

Miaoli City Government urges the public to swim only in designated pools with lifeguards on duty, avoid entering any area marked as hazardous, and heed all warning signs to ensure personal safety.