Keelung authorities rescue 71-year-old man lost in mountain cemetery

A 71-year-old man, identified by the surname Tran, was rescued after becoming lost while tending graves at the Nam Vinh cemetery in Keelung, Taiwan. The incident began on October 13, 2026, when the man, a resident of Yilan, went to the mountainous cemetery alone to clear weeds and maintain family graves.

As night fell, the man's family realized he had not returned. Subsequent phone contact revealed he was trapped in the rugged terrain and unable to find an exit. He could only provide vague descriptions of his surroundings, mentioning nearby excavators and mounds of earth, which made locating him difficult in the dark.

Keelung fire departments initiated a search operation starting at approximately 21:00 on October 13. Initial efforts involving three vehicles and seven rescuers were hampered by limited visibility and complex topography. On the morning of October 14, authorities escalated the search by deploying high-tech equipment, including drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras, to scan steep slopes and remote areas.