Typhoon approaches Su'ao Port, washing away engineering truck and leaving driver missing

The waters off northeastern Taiwan have recently been affected by the gradual approach of Typhoon Goni, resulting in significantly enhanced winds and waves and deteriorating sea conditions. Under these circumstances, a harrowing accident was reported today in the Su'ao Port area of Yilan County. According to preliminary reports from relevant authorities, a construction vehicle operating within the port was reportedly swept directly into the sea by sudden, powerful waves, causing a man in the driver's seat to fall into the water. His whereabouts are currently unknown. Upon receiving the report, the Coast Guard Administration, the Yilan County Fire Bureau, and the Port Police Headquarters immediately launched a large-scale joint search and rescue operation involving sea, land, and air assets, hoping to locate the missing individual within the critical rescue window.

At the moment of the accident, the eastern coastal regions of Taiwan were experiencing significant long swells and strong gusts due to the combined influence of the typhoon's outer circulation and the Northeast Monsoon. Su'ao Port, a major international commercial port and fishing harbor on Taiwan's east coast, inherently poses high risks to operational environments during severe weather. Based on eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations, the construction vehicle was performing engineering or typhoon preparation work within the port when it was struck by a sudden large wave while near the shoreline or dock edge. The powerful force of the water instantly struck the vehicle, causing it to lose control and plunge into the sea. Due to the suddenness of the incident and the deep, fast-flowing water at the point of impact, the person inside was unable to escape in time.

Following the incident, the Yilan County Fire Bureau and the Coast Guard Administration fleet branch rapidly dispatched large numbers of personnel and equipment to the scene. The search and rescue operation was conducted simultaneously at sea and on land. At sea, the Coast Guard deployed multiple patrol boats and lifeboats to conduct continuous searches around the area where the vehicle went down, expanding the search radius to prevent the missing person from being carried further away by ocean currents. In the air, a request was made for a helicopter from the Air Rescue Wing to conduct joint aerial searches, providing an overhead view of blind spots on the water's surface. On land, shore patrol personnel and fire rescue teams conducted combative searches along the coastline, breakwaters, and rubble mound areas of Su'ao Port. Divers were also deployed to search in areas deemed safe after risk assessments, racing against time to determine the exact location of the missing person.

As Typhoon Goni continues to approach, the weather and sea conditions in the waters surrounding Taiwan are deteriorating by the minute, posing significant challenges to the search and rescue efforts. Meteorological and Coast Guard authorities have issued warnings for long swells, urging the public and relevant workers to avoid approaching the coast or ports to watch waves or engage in non-essential outdoor work during typhoon alerts. However, maintenance of infrastructure, port typhoon preparations, and necessary engineering repairs often require workers to race against time in stormy conditions, exposing frontline engineering and operations personnel to extremely high occupational risks. This incident once again highlights the importance of safety protections and emergency response mechanisms for port engineering operations during extreme weather. Relevant regulatory authorities are expected to conduct a comprehensive review of port operational safety standards in the coming days.

Currently, the search and rescue operation for the missing man is ongoing and has not been suspended despite the worsening weather and dimming light. Rescue personnel continue to monitor changes in sea conditions, refusing to give up any hope of finding the missing person while ensuring the safety of the rescue teams. This accident has plunged the missing man's family into extreme anxiety and grief, while also drawing high attention and vigilance regarding sea safety within the local community. In addition to hoping for positive news from the search and rescue efforts, all sectors are reminded that workers in ports and coastal areas must prioritize their safety above all else during critical moments of unstable weather and approaching typhoons, strictly guarding against irreversible tragedies caused by sudden large waves and adverse sea conditions.

(Source: Central News Agency)