Taiwanese Firefighters Rescue Two Excavator Operators Trapped by River Dike Breach

A dramatic rescue unfolded in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on June 10, 2026, when two excavator operators found themselves stranded on a sandbar in the Zhuokou River. Sudden, heavy rainfall in the Liugui mountain area led to an unexpected dike breach upstream, causing the river's water level to surge rapidly.

The two workers, identified by their surnames as Li and Huang, were operating excavators on the riverbed for dredging work when the dike gave way. They were unable to evacuate in time and became trapped on a sandbar in the middle of the rapidly flowing river, facing a critical situation.

Responding to the emergency report from a colleague, officers from the Xinwei Police Station, Wang Long-an and Cai Meng-zhe, arrived at the scene. They coordinated with the Maolin Fire Brigade to establish a perimeter and initiate rescue efforts. As the situation grew more urgent, the rescue team expanded, with additional units from Neimen and Liugui fire brigades, as well as a special rescue team from Pingtung County, arriving to assist.

After assessing the conditions, rescue personnel decided to use a rubber boat to cross the turbulent river. Navigating the strong currents, the team successfully reached the stranded workers. Within minutes, the two men were safely brought ashore. Preliminary checks confirmed that both workers were unharmed, concluding a swift and effective rescue operation.