A Taiwanese appeals court has upheld a state compensation ruling against Taichung's scenic area office, a win for the family of a teenager who drowned after wandering into a surfing zone.

• A high school student drowned in 2023 at Dajia Seaside Park after drifting into a surfing and kitesurfing area and being swept away by waves.
• Both the trial court and the appeals court found the swimming area was not marked clearly enough for ordinary visitors to see where it ended.
• The city agency argued warning signs existed on site and online, and that the boy was outside the permitted swimming area without a flotation device.
• Judges rejected that defense, saying coordinates on a sign and scattered bamboo poles do not count as a visible boundary.

Outlook: The city agency can still appeal, but the ruling puts pressure on public beach operators across Taiwan to mark safe swimming areas in ways visitors can actually see.