An accident occurred during China's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays on October 7, in the Laohugou (老虎溝) region of Qinghai Province, China, where one Taiwanese climber died due to hypothermia and altitude sickness following a heavy snowstorm. The incident happened as over 250 climbers, who were undertaking a trekking course spanning from Gansu Province to Qinghai Province, became stranded due to severe weather conditions.
On October 9, Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) confirmed that a Taiwanese company employee working in China died on October 7 after encountering the snowstorm while climbing during their vacation. The deceased was one of the climbers stranded in the Laohugou area, and it is reported that the death was a result of a combination of a rapid temperature drop caused by the heavy snow and altitude sickness and hypothermia induced by the high elevation. According to a report by the Chinese media outlet, Red Star News, local rescue authorities successfully rescued all 251 people who were stranded in the Laohugou region by noon on October 8, but they were unable to save the Taiwanese climber.
Actions by the Taiwanese Authorities and Family Visit
The SEF, which was contacted by the deceased's company, did not disclose specific information about the deceased, such as age, gender, or company affiliation, citing the family's wishes and privacy concerns. Upon receiving news of the accident, the SEF immediately provided guidance on the procedures for the cremation of the remains, as well as the certification process for customs clearance documents. They also requested the cooperation of the Taiwan Business Association in Xining (西寧), the capital of Qinghai Province, to confirm the detailed accident information with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese authorities.
The family of the deceased, accompanied by company representatives, is currently traveling to China and heading to the site in Qinghai Province to manage the follow-up procedures. This unfortunate incident occurred during the Chinese National Day holiday period (October 1-8), which saw a surge in domestic travelers, adding to the sorrow caused by the unexpected natural disaster. The Laohugou region, which lies across Gansu and Qinghai Provinces, is a high-altitude area particularly vulnerable to sudden weather changes, demanding extreme caution during climbing. This accident once again highlights the inherent risks of high-altitude trekking and stresses the importance of safety preparedness for travelers.
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