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๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan /Disasters & Emergencies

Drone's Thermal Imaging Helps Rescue Supervisor Swept Away in Taiwan Flood

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Rescue personnel in Hualien, Taiwan, located a missing construction supervisor trapped in mud and strong currents.
  • The supervisor, surnamed Deng, had been swept away by floodwaters in the Mat'an'an River on Tuesday evening.
  • A drone equipped with thermal imaging detected a human-shaped heat signature, leading rescuers to Deng, who was clinging to a large piece of wood.

A missing construction supervisor, surnamed Deng, was miraculously found alive after being swept away by floodwaters in Taiwan's Mat'an'an River. The dramatic rescue unfolded early Wednesday morning, approximately 16 hours after Deng was reported missing Tuesday evening.

Rescue teams were alerted by faint calls for help coming from about 9 kilometers downstream of the incident site. Utilizing a drone equipped with advanced thermal imaging technology, rescuers were able to detect a human-shaped red dot, indicating a person's presence. This crucial technological aid led them directly to Deng, who was found stuck in the riverbed's mud and battling strong currents.

Deng had been clinging to a large piece of wood for support. Rescuers faced treacherous conditions, including thick mud and powerful water flow, as they worked for three hours to reach him. The successful extraction and subsequent hospitalization of Deng, who is reportedly suffering from minor brain bleeding, highlight the effectiveness of modern rescue techniques and the resilience of the survivor.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.