Taiwan Hiking Trail Closed After Fatal Rockfall Kills Four

The Butterfly Valley Trail in Taichung's Heping District remains closed after a deadly rockfall incident on June 27 killed four members of a hiking group. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Taichung branch investigated the accident, concluding it was a natural disaster caused by heavy rainfall accumulating and leading to a slope collapse at the 1.2-kilometer mark of the trail.

Following the incident, the agency immediately closed the trail. An expert assessment on June 29 confirmed the natural disaster as the cause. To prevent future accidents, the trail will stay shut. The agency plans to monitor potential hazards along the route and will invite experts to evaluate conditions for repairs and management strategies later in the year, once the weather stabilizes after the current rainy and typhoon seasons.

Authorities are urging hikers to exercise caution, noting that mountain environments are unpredictable. Beyond dangers like venomous insects and lightning, heavy rains can trigger delayed hazards such as rockfalls, landslides, fallen trees, and roadbed erosion. Hikers are advised to check trail status, assess current weather conditions, and evaluate their own capabilities before planning any trips, postponing if necessary for safety.

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The accident at 1.2 kilometers on the Butterfly Valley Trail was a natural disaster caused by accumulated rainfall leading to the collapse of slope rocks.