Landslide at Keelung City's Chaojing Park Buries Nine Vehicles, Injures Two

On June 3, 2024, at 2:28 p.m., a landslide struck the Beining Road entrance to Keelung City's Chaojing Park, burying nine vehicles and injuring two people. The incident caused significant disruption and prompted an extensive rescue and recovery operation.

The landslide occurred at the corner of Zhongzheng Road (Highway 2) and Chaojing Park Road. Boulders, rocks, and soil cascaded onto the highway and a nearby carpark, completely covering the area. Rescue teams from the Keelung, New Taipei, and Taipei City Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene.

Among the nine vehicles buried were seven cars and two trucks. A rescue team successfully extricated two men in their 40s from one of the vehicles. Both men were transported to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for treatment, with one suffering a head injury.

This landslide incident highlights the importance of disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience in the face of natural disasters. The consequences of such events can be devastating, resulting in loss of life, property damage, and disruption to critical services.

Eyewitnesses described the sudden and overwhelming nature of the landslide. One victim recounted, 'We all wanted to back up, but it was all covered really fast. We got out through the back window.' Another witness noted, 'At first, just a few rocks fell. There was a young person filming it. Not long after, a rock came down with a bang. It was bigger than my car, and it crushed my car.'

The landslide covered an area of 1,500 square meters with 22,000 cubic meters of debris. Firefighters and rescue dogs were deployed to search for any trapped individuals, but no additional victims were found. Keelung Mayor George Hsieh arrived at the scene to oversee the recovery operation.

Authorities believe the landslide was triggered by recent earthquakes in Hualien County and water saturation from heavy rainfall. The cleanup operation is expected to take more than a week, with road traffic remaining disrupted until the debris is cleared.

In the aftermath of the incident, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of the area and preventing future occurrences. Mayor Hsieh emphasized the importance of understanding the scope of the landslide and determining how long it will take to restore traffic in one direction.

The landslide at Keelung City's Chaojing Park serves as a potent warning of the power of natural events and the need for vigilance in areas prone to such occurrences. The swift response by emergency services highlights the effectiveness of coordinated rescue efforts in mitigating the impact of such disasters.

Key Takeaways

• Landslide in Keelung City's Chaojing Park buries 9 vehicles, injures 2.
• Rescue teams from 3 cities respond, extricate 2 men from buried vehicle.
• Landslide triggered by recent earthquakes and heavy rainfall.
• Cleanup operation expected to take over a week, disrupting road traffic.
• Incident highlights importance of disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience.