Hiker swept into swollen river on Mabo Traverse descent in Hualien

Aug 24, 2026

A woman hiking Taiwan's Mabo Traverse fell into a flooded river while coming down the mountain, and heavy rain is slowing the rescue.

  • A four-person team started the climb on the 18th and was due to come down in Hualien today.
  • A 30-year-old woman fell into the water near the old Yulin Bridge site when the river rose suddenly.
  • Rescuers from the Hualien fire department and forestry agency are hiking in, a trek expected to take six hours.
  • Non-stop heavy rain has ruled out a fast approach to the accident site.
  • The route there is already dangerous — the bridge and forest road were destroyed by an earlier storm, forcing hikers down into the river valley and back up around a collapsed slope.

Outlook: The rescue team will not reach her for hours, and the weather could make the descent harder still.

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