TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A dozen stand-up paddleboarders were rescued after drifting out to sea off the coast of Xiaoliuqiu on Saturday afternoon.
Ten tourists and two instructors were swept away by strong currents near Zhongao Beach and unable to return on their own. The Coast Guard immediately launched a rescue operation, per CNA.
Coast Guard Xiaoliuqiu Station Director Chang Long-quan (張龍全) said staff noticed several people on stand-up paddleboards who appeared stranded offshore due to strong currents. This triggered an emergency response, with personnel dispatched in a rubber dinghy and later enlisting a tourist boat to help bring the paddleboarders back.
The group, all reported to be around 25 years old, was safely escorted ashore. No injuries were reported, and none required medical attention.
The Coast Guard said sea conditions near Xiaoliuqiu were relatively calm on Saturday, but offshore currents were stronger and posed a risk of drifting. The public is advised to use the GoOcean app to check marine conditions before heading out, and to call the Coast Guard’s 118 hotline in an emergency.
