A 35-year-old man surnamed Shi from Hengchun Town, Pingtung County, went diving alone near the “Southernmost Point of Taiwan” at Eluanbi yesterday noon. When he did not return home by evening, his family went to look for him and found only his motorcycle and mobile phone.
Eluanbi is a cape located in Pingtung County, Taiwan, distinguished by its iconic lighthouse. It’s celebrated as the southernmost point of the island, attracting many tourists annually.
Suspecting he may have drowned while diving, they immediately reported the incident to the Eluanbi Inspection Office of the Coast Guard Administration. Despite joint search efforts by the Coast Guard, the Kenting unit of the Pingtung County Fire Department, and the Rescue Association, the man was not found by the end of the night. The search operation by land, sea, and air continued this morning.
Upon receiving the report, the Command of the 8th Patrol District of the Coast Guard dispatched the 6th Shore Patrol Team and the 14th Sea Patrol Team, mobilizing personnel, a thermal imaging vehicle, and patrol boats for the search. They also notified the Kenting unit of the Pingtung County Fire Department and the Wei Whale Rescue Association to join the search. This comes merely a week apart from the last diving accident, which also took place near Taiwan’s Southernmost point, but then it turned out to be good, and the woman diver was rescued.
The difference is that the rescued woman went diving near Shadao and drifted away to Southernmost Point, while here, the missing diver seems to be started diving right in the southernmost point or near to it.
The 6th Shore Patrol Team of the Southern Division stated that upon receiving the notification, relevant units immediately gathered at Taiwan’s southernmost point. Based on the description of the missing person provided by the family, which mentioned a black diving suit, the teams carried out searches along the shore and in the designated sea areas. By 10 pm yesterday, the missing individual was still not found. A total of 14 vehicles, 2 boats, 3 rafts, and 56 personnel were dispatched for the search. Starting at 7 am today, another shoreline and sea rescue operation was initiated, with the support of aerial search teams from the Air Task Force and the 3rd Drone Team of the Southern Division.
A member of a civilian rescue team involved in the search mentioned that spearfishing is a traditional fishing method in the area. Even though a fine of 3,000 TWD is imposed for this activity in the waters of Kenting National Park, it’s hard to enforce. There was a similar incident of someone going missing while spearfishing in the waters near Zhukeng, Checheng Township, on the 21st, and that person has yet to be found.
This incident might also involve a diving and spearfishing accident. The previous incident involved more persons; they took an inflatable boat from Haikou port and only then went to the diving spot. We wrote about this incident as well; you can read it here.
This incident near Eluanbi might also involve a diving and spearfishing accident.
The 6th Shore Patrol Team of the Southern Division advised the public to be cautious due to the changing weather and sea conditions influenced by the northeastern monsoon in the Pingtung area, and since we are already well into the autumn season, downslope wind plays a major factor in the area as well.
People wishing to participate in water-based recreational activities or venture out to sea should carefully assess the weather, sea conditions, and safety of their intended activities.