Four dead in Taiwan rockfall; organizer 'ashamed' of being misled by weather

A tragic rockfall incident in Taiwan's Heping District claimed the lives of four individuals, including a 61-year-old guide, as they were hiking the Butterfly Valley Waterfall trail. The group of 16 consisted of long-time friends who had planned the outing over a month in advance.

Wu Shui-pi, the chairman of the event's organizer, the Chinese Association for Primitive Living Education, expressed deep shame and regret over the incident. He explained that they checked the weather forecast and observed favorable conditions, with the nearby stream having low water levels, leading them to proceed with the planned route. Wu Shui-pi, who had previously walked the trail five or six times, admitted they were misled by the weather and should have canceled the activity.

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We were misled by the weather and feel very ashamed.

Wu Shui-pi highlighted that they had prepared three alternative plans in case of rain, including hiking a different trail, visiting a hot spring, or going shopping. However, the seemingly good weather on the day of the hike led them to disregard these backup options. He emphasized that the group, mostly composed of older friends, typically opted for less strenuous hikes.

During the hike, some members with better stamina moved ahead and had already crossed the area where the rockfall occurred. Wu Shui-pi and others who were slower heard a loud noise from ahead but hesitated to proceed due to the unknown situation. After half an hour with no response to messages, they learned about the rockfall and retreated.

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We had prepared three rainy day alternatives... but we were misled by the weather yesterday and feel very ashamed. We should have canceled this activity.