One injured after rockfall hits two motorcyclists on Central Cross-Island Highway

motorcyclist treated by paramedics after being hit by falling rocks

October 16, 2021October 16, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment central cross island highway, Hualien County, rockfall, Taroko National Park

Two motorcyclists were hit by falling rocks, leaving one injured, on the Central Cross-Island Highway in Taroko National Park this morning, Saturday, October 16. A 46-year-old man, named Liu, and his 44-year-old friend, named Huang, were traveling from Kaohsiung to Hualien City on heavy motorcycles when they were hit by falling rocks, some as large as one meter in diameter, at Cimu Bridge in Taroko Gorge at around 10:30 am. Liu was hit by one of the larger rocks, causing

crane after rolling off cross-island highway

Traffic Accidents

September 10, 2021September 10, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cross-island highway, Hualien County, industrial-accident

Two women died after a crane employed on a slope repair project on the Central Cross-Island Highway in Hualien County rolled into vehicles at around noon today, September 10. Police from Xincheng sub-bureau say that vehicles were stopped at the roadworks section at the 117 kilometer mark of Provincial Highway 8 when the crane hit the cars before crashing through a guardrail and rolling off the road. According to reports this afternoon, the driver was not in the crane at

Earthquakes

July 14, 2021July 14, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment earthquake, Hualien County

A series of 27 earthquakes with the largest at magnitude 5.2 centered in Hualien County shook Taiwan’s east coast this morning but only minor damage was reported. Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said that the earthquakes are probably aftershocks from a rare double-main shock event that happened last week. Tuesday and Wednesday July 7 and 8 saw a series of 15 earthquakes with two shocks over magnitude 5 centered around Shoufong Township. At 6:52 am this morning, July 14, a

Culture

April 25, 2021April 26, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment aboriginal hunting rights, bunun, Hualien County, indigenous people

Members of the Bunun ethnic indigenous people in Zhuoxi Township, Hualien County fired a 25-gun salute at the opening of an annual ceremony, linking generations from the past, to the present, and into the future today, April 25. The 25 shots fired from the hunter’s guns represented 23 Bunun men who were executed in the Dafen Incident, in 1915, when Japanese authorities attempted to confiscate the hunting rifles that the tribe were dependent on to survive; and two men who

Earthquakes

April 18, 2021April 19, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment earthquake, Hualien County

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake was followed three minutes later by one of magnitude 6.2, both centered in Hualien County on Taiwan’s east coast, late Sunday evening, April 18. The first quake struck at 10:11 pm with an epicenter 19.2 kilometers southwest of Hualien County Hall at a focal depth of 15 kilometers, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB). At 10:14 pm a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck with an epicenter at almost the same location, 20.2 kilometers southwest of Hualien

Disaster

April 6, 2021April 7, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hualien County, train accident, train derailed

A video shown by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) at a press conference today showed that the driver of a train that derailed and crashed Friday had barely 3 seconds to react to an obstacle on the track. The 10-second video shows the train exiting from a tunnel and rounding a curve before a truck that had rolled onto the track comes into view at the six-second mark. The train is then seen colliding with the truck at 9

Disaster

April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hualien County, train accident, train derailed

At least 48 people are dead, and more than 70 injured after an express train derailed in a tunnel on Taiwan’s east coat near Hualien City this morning, April 2. The number 408 Ziqiang express train from Shulin to Taitung City derailed as it was entering the Qingshui Tunnel between Chongde and Heren stations at 9:28 am. More than 350 people were aboard the 8-carriage train, which was fully booked as today is the first day of 4-day holiday for

Military Affairs

December 18, 2020December 18, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, f-16, Hualien County

Air Force Command announced today that salvage operations for an F-16 that crashed off the coast of Hualien County will be suspended until April and May next year, due to poor weather and ocean conditions. The aircraft, carrying one pilot, went down around 13 kilometers northeast of Hualien City on November 17. See previous story: F-16 missing, suspected crashed off east coast of Taiwan The statement said that the location of the downed aircraft had been effectively calibrated after 56

Animals

July 26, 2020July 26, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cobra, Hualien County, snakes

A Taiwan cobra (Naja atra) was spotted eating rice in Hualien City recently, and a video of the incident was uploaded to social media. According to reports in Liberty Times and SETN, the video was recorded on July 18 at Meilunshan Park. A Liberty Times reporter interviewed Ms Fan, who is credited with recording the video. Fan told the reporter that she had left a plate of rice out to feed stray dogs in the park. At 11:00 am in

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

injured worker after explosion at biogas facility

Health and Safety

May 1, 2020May 1, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hualien County, industrial-accident, workplace-safety

Three workers were injured after an explosion at a biogas recovery facility in Hualien County this morning, Labor Day, May 1. Hualien County Fire Department received reports of a massive explosion in Yuli Township at around 9:45 am. Three workers were found to have suffered multiple fractures and other injuries at the site of the explosion. One worker had a fractured spine and femur and was transferred to Taipei City for treatment after being stabilized at a local hospital. Another

Hualien County

One injured after rockfall hits two motorcyclists on Central Cross-Island Highway

Runaway crane on Cross-Island Highway kills two

Swarm of 30 earthquakes shakes Taiwan’s east coast this morning

Bunun warriors fire 25-gun salute to fallen ancestors on April 25

Magnitude 5.8 and 6.2 earthquakes just 3 minutes apart shake Taiwan

Last 10 seconds of train dashcam shows driver had just a few seconds to react before derailment disaster

Express train crashes and derails in east coast tunnel: Dozens dead

Salvage operation for crashed F-16 suspended until April-May 2021

Cobra recorded eating rice in Hualien City

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

Three workers injured after explosion at biogas facility