Cache of unexploded military bombs found in New Taipei City coastal waters

July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Gongliao District, New Taipei City, unexploded ordnance

A popular scuba diving location has been sealed off after 13 unexploded bombs were identified by military divers in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District today, July 21. Coast Guard personnel first sealed off the area yesterday after a recreational scuba diver reported finding a large unexploded military bomb yesterday afternoon at Mao’ao Bay at around 3:00 pm. Military divers began a search of the area at around 9:00 am this morning, and by 2:45 pm had identified 13 large pieces

Environment

July 15, 2020July 15, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Formosa Plastics Group, refinery fire, Yunlin County

Three people were injured after an explosion and fire at the Formosa Plastics Mialiao No. 6 refinery in Yunlin County this morning, and the company will be fined for breaches of the Air Pollution Control law. Twenty-three fire trucks and 76 personnel were dispatched from nearby fire stations after reports of the explosion and blaze at around 9:00 am. Yunlin County Fire Department Chief Lin Wen-shan said that the primary combustion material consisted of heavy oil and hydrogen, burning an

Marine and Fisheries

June 21, 2020June 24, 2020 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments east-coast, Hualien County, megamouth shark, taiwanfisheries

Fishermen operating off the coast of Hualien County on Taiwan’s east coast caught six megamouth sharks between June 15 – 18, raising the concerns of environmental groups, who are calling for protection of the mysterious species. Global Knowledge The megamouth shark ( Megachasma pelagios ) was first discovered by scientists in 1976, and named in 1983. According to scientific papers, including this one, only around 100 specimens have been observed or caught as of 2018. When the megamouth sharks are

fishing vessels on fire at Yanpu Fishing Port in Pingtung County Taiwan

Marine and Fisheries

June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment fire, fishing industry, Pingtung County

At least seven boats were destroyed by fire in Yanpu fishing port in Donggang Township, Pingtung County yesterday, including five large ocean going long-liners. The fire started on a tuna fishing boat undergoing repairs in the port at around 4:00 pm, and in windy conditions, the fire quickly spread to other vessels. Electrical wires are suspected to be the cause of the fire, according to a report in Liberty Times. A pall of thick, black smoke could be seen as

Environment

May 29, 2020May 30, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment beach cleanup, Taiwan National Cleanup

Organizers of the 4th annual Taiwan National Cleanup hope that more than 1,000 volunteers will show up to pick up 10,000 kilograms of trash from the beaches, national parks, and countryside of Taiwan. Organized by Taiwan Adventure Outings (TAO), and WRAPTIE™, cleanup groups will gather at 22 locations around Taiwan on Saturday, June 13. Past cleanup events organized by the group have seen a total of 2,000 volunteers pick up around 20,000 kilograms of trash, a TNCU press release said.

clean up crew collects dead fish in Taipei City river

Environment

May 10, 2020May 10, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment fishkill, Hot weather, New Taipei City

Hot weather and low levels of dissolved oxygen have caused fish to die in their thousands in the rivers of Greater Taipei, according the Taipei City and New Taipei City environmental protection bureaus. The EPAs tested water and found no evidence of toxicity or pollution, but oxygen levels of 2.47 mg/l. Continuous hot weather and lack of rain has caused levels of dissolved oxygen in the rivers to drop, according to inspectors. Fish kills have been reported in the Dahan,

Marine and Fisheries

April 4, 2020April 4, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Keelung City, Risso's dolphin, Taiwan Cetacean Society

A young juvenile Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) died in a rehabilitation pool in Keelung City yesterday, after being found stranded on the coast at Su’ao, on Taiwan’s north-east coast. Coast guard officers notified Taiwan Cetacean Society at around noon on April 1 that an injured juvenile Risso’s dolphin was stranded on a beach near Su’ao Harbor. A veterinarian identified wounds suspected to be caused by a cookie-cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis). The dolphin was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Keelung

whale shark stranded on Green Island, Taiwan

Marine and Fisheries

December 23, 2019December 23, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment green-island, marine conservation, whale shark

Up to twenty people helped to keep a 7-meter-long whale shark alive before pushing it back into the sea on Green Island, in a difficult rescue operation involving Coast Guard officers, marine scientists, and members of the general public, yesterday, December 22. Coast Guard officers on Green Island received a report at around 4:30 pm that a large whale shark was seen stranded on rocks at Sleeping Beauty Rock Beach. When coast guard officers arrived at the scene, residents of

man rescued after 10 day ordeal lost in the mountains

Environment

November 20, 2019November 20, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment mountain rescue, Pingtung County, search and rescue

A man reported missing after failing to return from a hike November 10 was rescued after meeting a search party at a remote location in Pingtung County this morning, November 20. Song Rui-xiong, 60, was reported missing by his family on November 11, after he failed to return from a 1 day hike to the top of Pingding Mountain in Pingtung County. Search and rescue personnel located Song’s car at the trail head and began a ground and air search

Marine and Fisheries

October 7, 2019October 7, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment marine search and rescue, ship-sinking, shipping accident, Taiwan Coast Guard, Taiwan Strait

Thirteen people were rescued and 12 are still missing after one gravel ship sank and another overturned in the middle of the Taiwan Strait yesterday, October 6. Taiwan’s National Rescue Command Center received a distress call from the vessels early yesterday morning. A Coast Guard vessel was dispatched from Penghu, Taiwan to assist in the search and rescue operation. Other vessels and a helicopter were dispatched from China, while a fixed wing aircraft from Hong Kong also assisted. According to

Marine and Fisheries Typhoon

September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ghost ship, marine salvage, ship aground, Yilan County

As Typhoon Mitag bears down on Taiwan’s northeast coast, harbor authorities decided to abort an operation to tow a 1,000 tonne freighter off the rocky shore at Daxi Harbor, Yilan County, yesterday, after an inspection team found that the hull had already been breached and had taken on water. The crewless, nameless, freighter ran aground Saturday, September 28, after drifting into Taiwan waters from the Yangtze River via the sea of Japan. Maritime authorities believe that the ship had been

Environment

Cache of unexploded military bombs found in New Taipei City coastal waters

Explosion, fire at Formosa Plastics refinery injures 3, causes pollution spike

Six megamouth sharks caught in four days: conservation groups call for catch ban

Multiple boats destroyed by fire at fishing port

Volunteers wanted for annual Taiwan national cleanup event June 13

Hot weather, low oxygen causes fish kills in Taipei rivers

Rescued baby dolphin dies despite rehabilitation attempts

Whale shark rescued after stranding on Green Island

Hiker rescued after 10-day search

12 missing after ship sinks, another overturns in the Taiwan Strait

Stranded ship left to mercy of typhoon after towing operation aborted