TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Rescue crews in Taitung located an Australian man who had been missing for four days trapped inside a cave on a steep mountainside, though difficult terrain and heavy rain have hampered efforts to bring him to safety.
The man, identified only by his first name, Matthew, and believed to be in his 50s, reportedly disappeared four days ago after an argument with his wife, per CNA. Friends and relatives searched the mountains behind an Indigenous village in Donghe Township, where he often hiked, before discovering his motorcycle parked at the base of the mountain and notifying authorities.
The Taitung County Fire Bureau established a forward command post and launched a mountain search operation after receiving the report. Rescue efforts were halted Tuesday night because of heavy rain but resumed Wednesday morning with drone support.
Drone footage showed the man inside a cave along a cliff face in the Coastal Mountain Range, CNA reported. Rescuers said he appeared conscious and mobile, but the cave sits within a steep V-shaped crevice that is difficult to escape once descended into.
Firefighters believe Matthew may have followed a mountain ridgeline before climbing down into the cave and becoming stranded. Dense vegetation, the absence of trails, and unstable weather conditions have slowed rescue operations, with ground crews expected to need one to two days to reach the site.
Officials said helicopters have only been able to conduct aerial reconnaissance because the terrain is too dangerous for an airlift extraction, according to CNA. Rescue teams are assessing weather conditions to deliver supplies by drone while crews work to clear a route to the cave.
