Landslide in Keelung injures two, traps vehicles

KEELUNG (TVBS News) — A massive landslide occurred on Monday (June 3) in Keelung's Zhongzheng District, trapping several vehicles and injuring two people.

The landslide, which took place near the Pinglang Bridge (平浪橋) entrance of Chaojing Park on Beining Road, was attributed to continuous heavy rainfall and long-term weathering, according to Lee Chyi-tyi, a retired professor from the Graduate Institute of Applied Geology at National Central University (中央大學).

Lee warned that landslides are often preceded by smaller rockfalls, advising the public to stay away upon noticing such signs.

The Keelung City Fire Department (基隆市消防局) responded swiftly to the incident, conducting search and rescue operations.

The landslide's impact was dramatic, affecting nearly a dozen vehicles, and was described as a shocking sight by witnesses.

Kuo Kai-wen, former director of the Seismological Center at the Central Weather Administration, estimated the landslide covered an area equivalent to nearly four basketball courts.

The landslide's causes include recent earthquakes and rainfall, as explained by the Highway Bureau's Northern Region Branch Office's Keelung Branch Head Tsai Chih-ying.

Efforts to clear the road and restore access are underway, with Chen Wen-juei, the director of the Highway Bureau at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), stating that the road is expected to reopen by the morning of June 11, requiring seven working days for clearance.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of geological assessments and the need for public vigilance in areas prone to landslides.