TAIPEI: A tourist was killed and four others were injured after a 3m-high boardwalk at Taiwan’s mountain attraction Alishan broke suddenly on Wednesday (Nov 13) afternoon.
The incident occurred at around 4pm near the Fumei Suspension Bridge at Shanmei Village, according to the Chiayi County Fire Bureau.
A 76-year-old woman surnamed Liow died from a head injury sustained during the fall.
Four other tourists, aged between 54 and 84, suffered bruises and fractures but are currently in stable condition.
The five tourists were part of a larger 44-person local tour group from Miaoli county in central Taiwan, who were visiting Alishan township when the incident happened, Focus Taiwan reported.
In photos released by the Fire Bureau, the floor of the boardwalk appears to have broken off on one end. A metal ladder is placed horizontally across the gap.
The Taiwan authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident.
Alishan National Scenic Area is the sixth most visited tourist attraction in Chiayi in south-western Taiwan in the first half of 2024, with more than 470,000 visitors, according to statistics from the Taiwan Tourism Administration. - The Straits Times/ANN
