Taiwan's Mountain Rescue Rate to Hit 10-Year High of Over 93% in 2025, Says MOI

(CNA, Taipei, 21st, by reporter Kao Hua-chien) Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior (MOI) announced today that due to the National Fire Agency's budget allocation since 2024 to comprehensively strengthen tech-based search and rescue, the mountain accident rescue rate for 2025 has increased to 93.24%, setting a 10-year record. The number of people rescued reached 648, nearly a threefold increase compared to a decade ago. Today, the MOI's departmental meeting featured reports from the National Park Service, the National Fire Agency, and the National Airborne Service Corps on "Improvements in National Park Mountaineering Management and Mountain Rescue" and the organization of the "2026 Seminar on Enhancing Mountain Activity Safety and Rescue Systems." Political Deputy Minister of the Interior, Ma Shih-Yuan, pointed out at a press conference after the meeting that the National Fire Agency has invested approximately NT$750 million since 2024 to promote the "Five-Year Mid-Term Plan to Enhance Mountain Accident Rescue Effectiveness." This comprehensive strengthening of tech-based search and rescue has led to the 2025 mountain accident rescue rate rising to 93.24%, a 10-year high, with 648 people rescued, nearly three times more than 10 years ago. National Park Service Director-General Wang Cheng-Chi stated that for preventing mountain accidents, the service has not only added anti-getting-lost facilities and guide signs but also deployed portable altitude chambers (PACs) to effectively help patients with high-altitude sickness secure crucial rescue time. National park management offices have also intensified equipment checks and anti-getting-lost markings during high-risk periods like the snow season. Furthermore, real-time weather and environmental information is pushed through the "Taiwan Mountain Entry Application One-Stop Service Website" and the "National Park Hiking Check-in APP." Wang said that to strengthen the institutional management of mountain activities, discussions are underway with the Ministry of Sports, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, and other related ministries. In the future, they will cooperate with the competent authority to formulate a dedicated mountaineering management act, considering supporting measures such as mandatory hiring of qualified guides for high-risk routes to enhance nationwide management consistency. The MOI stated that to enhance the self-rescue and mutual-rescue capabilities of indigenous communities in mountainous areas, 12 indigenous special search and rescue teams were established on the 15th, comprising 216 members, with an indigenous ratio of 91.6%. It is hoped that they will leverage their local experience and familiarity with the terrain to support mountain rescue missions. Remuneration for these teams is also being planned to retain talent long-term. Additionally, to deepen exchanges on mountain safety and rescue systems, the MOI will hold the "2026 Seminar on Enhancing Mountain Activity Safety and Rescue Systems" on the 28th. It will invite central and local government agencies, scholars, experts, practical rescue groups, and mountain-related units to jointly discuss issues such as mountain activity safety, rescue systems, insurance schemes, public-private collaboration, and mountaineering education, aiming to build a more resilient system.