08/06/2026
Taiwan 🇹🇼 Files!
A terrifying minibus overturned at around 5 pm today (June 7) on the 79K mark of Provincial Highway 14, Puwu section, in Ren'ai Township, Nantou County! A tour group of 15 Filipino tourists had chartered the bus to visit the North Peak of Hehuan Mountain to admire the alpine rhododendrons. However, on the way back down the mountain, while going through a steep slope and sharp bend, the minibus lost control, crashed through the guardrail, and overturned down a slope about 2 meters deep beside the road, ending up upside down with severe damage.
The accident resulted in injuries to 16 people, including 15 foreign passengers and the Taiwanese driver. Surprisingly, the first report received by the fire department did not come from bystanders, but from passengers' iPhones or Apple Watches that detected the violent impact and automatically activated the "accident detection" mechanism to call 119.
Smart devices prove invaluable! The 5th emergency response team braved the rain to provide assistance.
The Nantou County Fire Department received an automatic report at 5:31 pm, and learned that a group of foreign tourists were trapped in the mountains. They immediately dispatched personnel and vehicles from five teams, including Renai, Zhongxinbei, Puli and the Second Brigade, to rush to the scene to rescue the people from the brink of death.
Police and firefighters arrived at the scene and began rescue operations. All 16 people pulled from the vehicle sustained injuries of varying degrees, but fortunately, they were conscious. After initial first aid at the scene, rescuers transported them in batches to Puli Christian Hospital and Puli Veterans Hospital for treatment. Initial hospital diagnoses revealed that three people were seriously injured, including one with a cerebral hemorrhage and two with severe fractures, while the remaining 13 suffered mostly abrasions and contusions and were not in life-threatening condition.
Police urge drivers to switch to low gears when driving on mountain roads in rainy weather after a 180-degree hairpin bend.
Preliminary police investigation revealed that the minibus was driven by a Taiwanese man surnamed Zhang. Due to recent continuous rainfall in the Ren'ai mountain area, the roads were slippery, and the accident occurred on a steep slope with a sharp bend of nearly 180 degrees. The initial assessment is that the accident was caused by careless handling while going downhill and around the bend, resulting in the skidding.
Police stated that whether vehicle malfunction was involved is still under investigation. The Renai Police Precinct also strongly urged drivers to maintain a safe following distance, reduce speed, and switch to a low gear when driving on mountain roads due to recent unstable weather conditions, in order to reduce the risk of accidents.
Original Article:
“合歡山中巴「衝出邊坡翻覆」! 菲籍團16人傷 iPhone自動通報救援”
(Reference, EToday News)
