TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Typhoon Kong-rey caused the Smangus Indigenous village in Hsinchu’s Jianshi Township to be cut off from outside transportation, stranding 150 people in what is said to be Taiwan's most remote community.
The Hsinchu County Government Fire Department said it received a message from the Jianshi Township Office that rockslides from the typhoon made roads impassable into the Smangus village. The township official requested a helicopter deliver emergency supplies to the area.
Unfortunately, heavy fog blocked the mission on Sunday (Nov. 3). The helicopter successfully delivered supplies to the village on Monday (Nov. 4), including 1.2 tons of food and medicine, per CNA.
A bridge leading to the Smangus village was washed away by floodwaters, cutting off the area. County officials expected the road to be open within a week, allowing vital supplies to arrive. However, the time frame was stretched to a minimum of 10 days due to falling rocks and unstable geography, making it difficult for heavy vehicles to enter.
Furthermore, officials said the risk to personnel due to falling rocks is too high. If bridge repair can not be completed, the government will evaluate building another bridge elsewhere to provide access to the village, per UDN.
Currently, supplies to the village will be delivered by helipads in Zhudong Township and Smangus village.
Smangus Atayal are known as "God’s Tribe" for living in remote areas. During the Japanese colonial era, they were forced to live in more accessible regions, but after the Japanese left, they returned to their ancestral villages.
