Hikers killed in Taichung rockfall

Four hikers perished and another sustained injuries in a rockfall incident near Butterfly Valley Waterfall in Taichung's Guguan area on Saturday. The victims, two men and two women, were part of a 16-person group from Taipei.

The rockfall occurred at the 1.4km mark of the Butterfly Valley hiking trail. Rescuers arrived at the scene to find the four individuals without vital signs. A 70-year-old woman suffered bruises. The group had begun their hike at 11 a.m. after traveling from Taipei.

Other members of the hiking group, including former minister of transportation and communications Tsai Duei, managed to descend the trail on their own. Search-and-rescue crews worked into the evening to recover the bodies.

In a separate incident, four individuals were rescued off Dongji Islet in Penghu County after their yacht, the Daily Ocean, capsized due to rough seas. The vessel took on water and lost power before overturning. A nearby fishing boat rescued the occupants before coast guard vessels arrived.