Yangmingshan Closes Park and Hot Springs Over Landslide Risks Amid Upgraded Typhoon Alert

The Yangmingshan National Park Administration issued a warning on Thursday, October 24, noting that recent typhoons have significantly increased the water content in mountainous soil. This condition poses a severe threat to pedestrian safety in the event of landslides or mudflows. The park authorities urged the public to postpone hiking, flower viewing, and other outdoor activities in the mountains to avoid danger caused by sudden weather changes. This warning not only serves as an alert for upcoming hikers but also reflects the heavy rain and wind alerts issued by the Central Weather Bureau over several consecutive days. These alerts indicate that the typhoon’s rainfall has concentrated in the northern mountainous regions, causing water levels to rise rapidly and directly impacting geological stability.

According to the Yangmingshan National Park Administration, all visitor service centers within the park will be temporarily closed on October 25 to ensure post-disaster environmental cleanliness and to conduct safety inspections of facilities. This closure includes leisure facilities such as the Cold Water Pit hot spring bathhouse and foot spas, which will suspend services to the public, while relevant ecological protection areas will remain closed. The administration stated that these facilities require comprehensive testing after the typhoon to ensure that pipelines, electrical systems, and drainage systems have not been damaged, thereby preventing secondary disasters caused by equipment failure.

As a major weekend leisure destination for Taipei residents, Yangmingshan attracts over one million visitors annually for hiking, cherry blossom viewing, and hot spring bathing. Following previous major typhoons, the park has temporarily closed due to road collapses or landslides, deploying significant manpower for cleanup and restoration afterward. The administration’s early announcement of the temporary closure demonstrates a well-established operational process for disaster prevention alerts and post-disaster recovery, in compliance with the Mountain Area Disaster Prevention and Rescue Act, aiming to minimize risks.

For local businesses and service providers, the brief closure inevitably brings an economic impact. Operating revenue from the Cold Water Pit and foot spas constitutes a significant portion of their income during the peak tourist season. If the closure continues for several days, it will affect operators' cash flow and employee scheduling. The local government has stated that it will assist relevant businesses in applying for disaster assistance and provide temporary promotional platforms to mitigate economic losses caused by the natural disaster. Meanwhile, the public can obtain the latest opening information through the park’s official website or social media platforms if they need to change their plans due to weather conditions, avoiding unnecessary travel and time waste.

Finally, experts reminded the public that mountain weather is unpredictable. Even after the typhoon's center has moved away from the island, the mountains may still experience localized heavy rainfall and mudflows due to residual effects. Before planning a trip to the mountains, the public should check the Central Weather Bureau’s real-time weather maps and alerts and comply with the safety instructions issued by the park administration. If already in the mountainous area, individuals should seek safe shelter as soon as possible and maintain open lines of communication to facilitate immediate assistance in emergency situations. Through the cooperation of the government, management units, and the public, casualties and property losses can be reduced in the face of natural disasters.

(Source: Central News Agency)