Suhua, Taiwan is closed due to Qiangpi attack. A man hiking around the island forced his way through the gate and was trapped.

Affected by Typhoon Qiangbi, the section of the Suhua Highway from Dong'ao to Nan'ao was closed at 8 a.m. this morning. Unexpectedly, a 40-year-old man surnamed Chen who was hiking around the island ignored the warning and forced his way through the gate in the afternoon. Then on the way to Hualien, he was trapped in the wind and rain due to exhaustion. The police and the Highway Bureau were notified and escorted him down the mountain at about 6:30 p.m. The dangerous behavior may result in a fine of up to NT$250,000.

The highway bureau reviewed the monitor and found that at around 4:50 p.m., Chen slipped through the gap in the gate at the 113.5th kilometer of Provincial Highway 9 and wanted to go to Hualien. He walked for 3 kilometers in about an hour and asked for help when he reached 116.7 kilometers.

After receiving the report, the Nan'ao Public Works Section worked with the police to carry out rescue operations. Considering the possibility of landslides and rockfalls along the route, they also dispatched emergency rescue equipment to accompany him. Finally, Chen was found at the south entrance of the nearly 118-kilometer Xin'ao Tunnel. After it was confirmed that Chen Nan was in good health, at 6:38 p.m., the police and equipment safely escorted him back to the Dong'ao Police Station for placement and recording.

In response to Chen Nan's unauthorized trespassing, relevant units may initiate prosecutions and issue fines in accordance with the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act. Anyone who breaks into a disaster warning area or closed road section during a typhoon will be fined NT$50,000 to NT$250,000.

The Eastern District Maintenance Engineering Branch calls on mountainous areas to be prone to strong winds, heavy rains and landslides during typhoons. Passers-by are advised to avoid entering the mountains. They must cooperate with road control measures and do not take chances to avoid endangering their own safety and increasing the operational risks of rescue workers.