Young Formosan black bear rescued from boar trap

veterinarians examine Formosan black bear rescued from snare

October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments animal protection, animal rescue, Formosan black bear, Miaoli County, wildlife rescue

Animal rescue workers took a juvenile Formosan black bear to a rehabilitation center for medical treatment after it was rescued from a boar trap in a mountain district of Miaoli County yesterday, October 16. A fruit farmer named Zhang was inspecting his orchard when he heard an animal growling in a nearby bamboo grove. On inspection, Zhang found a small black bear with one limb caught in a snare. Zhang contacted the Taichung branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation

police swat team raids illicit drug factory

Drugs

October 16, 2023October 16, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment amphetamines, drug bust, drug-manufacturing, meth

Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau conducted a two-year-long investigation, culminating in a raid on a drug manufacturing facility in Nantou County that netted the largest single haul of domestically-produced methamphetamine in the country’s history. The investigation was instigated by the Pingtung District Prosecutor’s Office, and involved the joint efforts of a team from Taichung City, Changhua City, and Kaohsiung City police departments. According to the investigation, a 32-year-old man, named Lee, financed the operation. Lee employed a 30-year-old man, named Lu,

5-year-old girl chain by neck in bathroom.

Society

October 13, 2023October 13, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment child-abuse, child-safety, Kaohsiung City

A woman in Kaohsiung City has been sentenced to a three-month prison term for leaving her 5-year-old daughter chained by the neck in a bathroom while she went to work. According to the Kaohsiung District Court, on October 15, 2022, the 30-year-old single mother, named Lee, fed her daughter lunch, then tied a chain around her neck and attached the other end to a crossbar in the shower cubicle of her apartment’s bathroom. Lee then went to work. The girl

Overturned chemical tanker and bleach on road

Traffic Accidents

October 12, 2023October 12, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment chemical spill, Gongliao District, New Taipei City, Provincial Higway 2, truck-accident

The driver of a chemical truck died, and a large amount of bleach was spilled on the road, after the truck crashed and overturned on Provincial Highway 2 in New Taipei City this morning. The New Taipei City Fire Department received reports of a crash and chemical spill on the coastal highway in Gongliao District at 10:44 am. NTCFD dispatched 24 vehicles and 40 personnel to the scene of the accident. After identifying the spilled chemical as sodium hypochlorite (bleach),

Typhoon

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Orchid-Island, Taitung County, typhoon, Typhoon Koinu

The fastest wind speed ever recorded in Taiwan measured 95.2 meters per second, and was recorded at 9:52 pm yesterday, October 4, on Orchid Island (Lanyu), Taiwan postcode 952. Some media outlets, including The Guardian are reporting that the measurement constitutes the third-fastest wind speed measured in the in the world, after 113.3 m/s recorded on Barrow Island, Australia in 1996, and 103.2 m/s at Mount Washington, New Hampshire, in 1934. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the 95.2 m/s

Typhoon

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hengchun, Orchid-Island, typhoon, Typhoon Koinu

Typhoon Koinu caused devastating damage on Orchid Island last night, before making landfall on the Hengchun Peninsula at 8:20 am this morning, Thursday, October 5. Orchid Island, situated 90 kilometers off the east coast, was the first place in Taiwan to bear the brunt of the typhoon when the eye passed over the island last night. Communications with the island remained cut off this morning. Former legislator Lai Kuncheng said that out of dozens of calls, he managed to make

composite image showing two bus accidents

Traffic Accidents

October 4, 2023October 4, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment bus accident, bus crash, Hualian County, Yilan County

A bus driver in Hualien County was seriously injured, and 19 passengers on a bus in Yilan County suffered minor injuries, in two separate bus accidents that occurred just 11 minutes apart this afternoon, Wednesday, October 4. In Yilan County, a tour bus traveling from Hualien City to Taoyuan rear-ended another coach in the northbound lanes at the exit of the Su’ao Tunnel on Provincial Highway 9 at 3:19 pm. Nineteen passengers on the rear bus suffered cuts and bruises

Typhoon

October 3, 2023October 4, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment typhoon, Typhoon Koinu

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau issued a land warning for communities on Taiwan’s east coast as Typhoon Koinu intensified as it continued to move towards the island today, Tuesday, October 3. The CWB issued the alert for Hualien, Taitung, and Pingtung counties at 11:30 am, warning the public to prepare for torrential rain, and strong winds. According to the CWB, at 11:00 am, Typhoon Koinu was located 440 kilometers east-southeast of Taiwan’s most southerly point, Point Eluanbi, and moving northwest at

Typhoon

October 2, 2023October 2, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment typhoon, Typhoon Koinu

Severe Tropical Storm Koinu intensified into a typhoon early Monday morning, and weather forecasters have it on track to make landfall in southeastern Taiwan Thursday. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, Typhoon Koinu this morning was located 755 kilometers southeast of Point Eluanbi, and moving in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 11 kilometers per hour. Koinu has a storm radius of approximately 200 kilometers packing sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 180 kilometers

Typhoon

October 1, 2023October 1, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment tropical storm

Tropical Storm Koinu formed east of the Philippines yesterday, and is expected to be upgraded to typhoon status before approaching the southeast coast of Taiwan and passing through the Bashi Channel later this week. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, early this morning Koinu was located 1,050 kilometers southeast of the Hengchun Peninsula and moving northwest at 12 kilometers per hour. The tropical storm had a minimum pressure of 985 hpa, with sustained winds of 25 meters per second and

Violent Crimes

September 28, 2023September 28, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment arson, death penalty, Hsinchu City

A man who was found guilty of setting fire to his family’s business and residence, resulting in the death of eight people, was sentenced to death by the Hsinchu District Court today, September 28. [See previous story: 8 family members dead after arson attack in Hsinchu City] The prosecutor told the court that Chen Yanxiang had financial problems due to the accumulation of debts, and had often quarreled with his parents over housework issues. At around 9:40 pm on June

Young Formosan black bear rescued from boar trap

Police seize biggest haul of domestically manufactured meth in Taiwan history

Mother sentenced to prison for chaining 5-year-old in bathroom so she could go to work

Driver dies, bleach spills on road after chemical tanker crash on coastal highway

Taiwan records world’s third-strongest wind gust: 95.2 m/s at 9:52 pm in postcode 952

Typhoon Koinu devastates Orchid Island before making landfall on southern tip of Taiwan: record wind gusts recorded before anemometer destroyed

Two separate bus accidents on Taiwan’s east coast occurred just 11 minutes apart: 21 injured

Taiwan battens down the hatches as Typhoon Koinu approaches east coast

Typhoon Koinu expected to make landfall in southeastern Taiwan

Tropical Storm Koinu expected to strengthen to typhoon, closest to Taiwan Wednesday

Man sentenced to death for arson attack that left 8 of his family members dead