Author: Phillip Charlier

Sulfuric Fire Fishing

scoop nets and fire are used to catch sardines in nothern Taiwan
Culture 
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A traditional method of catching Japanese scaled sardines (Sardinella zunasi) was formally recognized as a cultural heritage asset in Taiwan in 2015. This year, tourists are being offered a chance to experience the annual harvest up close. Sulfuric fire fishing involves the use of sulfur, a resource abundant in northern Taiwan, to produce fire from the gas produced when it comes into contact with water. Boat crews use the fire to attract the fish and corral them close to the

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Tourists Rescued After Flash-Flood in Wulai District

Tourists using a ladder to climb out of a flooded gorge in Wulai District, New Taipei City
Weather 
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Two groups of tourists called emergency services after becoming trapped by floodwaters caused by afternoon thunderstorms in the Wulai District of New Taipei City on Sunday afternoon, June 26. One group was rescued after firefighters and police deployed a ladder into a steep gorge. Another group of 20 people were trapped on a sandbar, and are not considered to be in immediate danger at the time of reporting.

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14 Year-old Drunk Driver Slams into Ambulance

A trashed scooter after hitting an ambulance
Traffic Accidents 
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A 14 year-old girl and two of her friends, 14, and 13 years old were injured when the scooter they were riding on crashed into an ambulance in Pingtung County at around 9:30PM Saturday June 25. All three of the teens were rushed to hospital, one in a critical condition. After spending the night in the intensive care unit, the seriously injured girl’s condition has since been reported as stable. The accident happened at an intersection in Hengchun Township. The

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National Pumpkin Contest in Danshui

Giant pumpkins from the 13th annual National Pumpkin Contest in Danshui, New Taipei City
Business and Economy 
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A New Taipei City farmer won the prize for the biggest pumpkin, and broke the record at the 13th annual National Pumpkin Contest in Danshui, New Taipei City, today June 25. The winning pumpkin weighed in at 656.98 catty (1 catty = 0.5kg). The pumpkins were put on display at Taipei Metro’s Danshui Station. New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu turned up to present the award, and noted that only 5 years ago, approximately 46 hectares of New Taipei City

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Wandan Mud Volcano Flares Up

natural gases burning wandun mud volcano Pingtung County
Environment 
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The mud volcano which is located in Pingtung County in Taiwan’s south, last erupted in late April, created a spectacular light show this evening June 24 as it blazed from 6:00PM. At 10:00PM it was still burning. Residents and visitors took pictures and posted them on social media. The mud volcano erupts periodically at different locations within a roughly 2 kilometer radius, as the pressure of natural gasses builds up. Locals sometimes ignite the gases.

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Storms, Hail, and Tornadoes Sweep Jiangsu Province: 78 Dead

A village destroyed in a storm June 23, 2016 in Jiangsu Province
Disaster 
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Whole villages were flattened when severe electrical storms brought lightening, hail, gale-force winds, and tornadoes to China’s Jiangsu Province this afternoon. Collapsed buildings, blocked roads, and extensive damage to infrastructure and agricultural production has been reported. The extent of the damage is still being assessed. The death toll at 10:00PM stood at 78, while over 500 were reported injured. Natural disaster emergency management ordinances have been put into effect by the provincial government. A villager reported that the sky turned

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Express Train Derails in Hualian: Carriages Tipped Over

A derailed train in Hualian County, Taiwan
Weather 
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A train derailed in Hualian County near Ruisui Township at around 3PM this afternoon, Wednesday, June 22. Early reports say two people were injured. Expecting a large number of injuries due to the large number of passengers and the severity of the accident, fire-fighters and a large number of ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The number 307 Tz Chiang class express train derailed at 2:49PM, causing one carriage to fall on its side and two others lean over. Although

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Man Busted at Airport: Amphetamine Bound for Australia

A Taiwanese drug mule wears a t-shirt bearing the words hello Mr. Banana on his way to Queensland, Australia's sunshine state
Drugs 
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A 25 year-old Taiwanese man was arrested at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport Friday evening, June 17, when he was about to board a plane bound for Brisbane, Australia, carrying 5.4kg of amphetamine in 8 packs taped to his body. Working on a tip-off, police waited for the man, Chen Kun-sheng (陳坤生) in the departure lounge. When he arrived, they established his identity and showed a search warrant. As well as the amphetamine, Mr Chen was found in possession of a

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Four People Killed and Eaten by Bears in Japan

Bear hunted after it killed and ate a person
Environment 
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Police stepped up patrols around an area of forest in Akita Japan, yesterday, June 18, to keep people from entering the area after a series of deadly attacks by bears. The bodies of four people killed in bear attacks have been found since late May. All of the victims were people in their 60s and 70s, who ventured into the forest to forage for wild bamboo shoots and other wild foods that are a popular delicacy in the region. On

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Murder by Chopstick

Odd News 
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A 51 year old resident of Yao City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan was arrested Thursday after stabbing his father in the neck with a chopstick Wednesday night. Michikazu Ikeuchi, was trying to prevent his parents arguing when he lost his temper. He had a 30 centimeter chopstick used for cooking in his hand at the time. “He said in his anger he waved the chopstick in front of his father but before he knew it, it got stuck in him,” a

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Taiwan Tightens Net on Protected Fish Species: Imports Intercepted

Frozen humphead wrasse intercepted trying to enter Taiwan
Marine and Fisheries 
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Customs officials yesterday found protected species in a shipment of frozen fish imported from Indonesia. The shipment had been declared to contain blackspot tuskfish (Choerodon schoenleinii), also known as green wrasse, ‘and other parrot fish’. When inspected, the shipment was found to include 23 green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), with a total weight of 80kg. The species is protected under Taiwan’s wildlife protection laws, and is banned from export or import. When told the shipment violated the law, a representative

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