Three Junior High Students Rescued After Water Accident in Kaohsiung

Near the Dahu Pumping Station in Tianwei Village, Hunei District, Kaohsiung City, three junior high school students were playing in the water out of curiosity this afternoon. One of the students unexpectedly sank beneath the water for unknown reasons, prompting police and firefighters to immediately receive a report and dispatch rescue personnel and rubber boats to the scene for search and rescue operations. According to preliminary reports, the trapped student was successfully rescued, but their physical condition is still under observation at a medical facility.

The Dahu Pumping Station, located in Hunei District, Kaohsiung City, is primarily responsible for regulating drainage and water supply in the area. The water level in this zone is relatively deep and the current is swift, posing a high potential danger to teenagers lacking swimming experience. Over the past few years, similar incidents have occurred in various parts of Taiwan due to inadequate water safety, especially in waters near schools where students frequently enter the water without supervision, resulting in accidents.

According to Taiwan's Water Safety Management Act and Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act, both schools and local governments bear the responsibility for supervision and accident prevention. Statistics show that over the past decade, the number of teenage drowning deaths resulting from water accidents in Taiwan has exceeded one hundred, with the majority occurring near schools or in public waters. Such incidents have also prompted multiple local governments to step up water patrols and install warning signs.

During the rescue operation, police and fire departments jointly dispatched police officers, firefighters, and lifeguard teams, utilizing rubber boats and lifebuoys to conduct a rapid search. Rescue personnel maintained continuous observation at the scene and assisted in safely transporting the trapped student to a nearby hospital. According to reports, the rescue operation arrived at the scene approximately ten to fifteen minutes after receiving the report and completed the rescue within thirty minutes. The rescue team stated that while the current at the scene was calm, operations still required careful handling to prevent secondary accidents.

This incident has drawn community attention to water safety. The local government stated that it will cooperate with schools to review and strengthen water safety education for students, while also considering the installation of additional warning signs and surveillance facilities around the pumping station. School authorities also indicated they will enhance student safety education and incorporate swimming and water safety training into physical education curricula next semester. Community residents called upon parents and schools to share the responsibility of ensuring the safety of teenagers during water activities.

This incident serves as a reminder that water safety is not merely an individual responsibility, but a collective societal issue. In the future, through strengthened supervision, improved facilities, and enhanced education, the occurrence of similar accidents can be effectively reduced. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)