Logo
  • Home

頭條新聞 Headline News

Two dead, two injured in suspected bento shop gas explosion

A suspected gas explosion at a bento shop in Hsinchu City claimed two lives in the early hours of Tuesday. The tragedy took place on Gaocui Road, where 11 explosions were counted in just 4 seconds. The huge force caused damaged all over the street, and collapsed a brick wall that crushed the couple living next door. The bento shop owner, who lives on the building’s third floor was injured, and so was another neighbor on the first floor of the house to the other side of the shop. Let’s hear more.

Kuo Peng-hsin
Borough warden
It seems the explosion happened at the bento shop, and it damaged the bakery next door.

Local
Lives nearby
They used to sell lamb stew there. It became a bento shop this year.

Lee Shih-kung
Hsinchu City Fire Bureau
The force of the explosion toppled a brick wall next door, which crushed a husband and wife who were sleeping. When we found them, they didn’t have any vital signs.

Due to the force of the explosion, fire fighters thought that there must have been more than one leaky gas canister. But another possibility is that the gas accumulated over a longer period inside the bento shop, causing a big bang. The exact cause of the incident is under investigation.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#gas #gasexplosion #hsinchu #bento

Time：2026-06-09

最新消息 Latest News

Site manager of Matai’an Creek project rescued after 15 hours

On Monday noon, the manager for a sediment control dam project along Matai’an Creek in Hualien got washed away in the rain, just as he was driving to the site to evacuate a number of operators. He had only headed out when he suddenly called for help and became unreachable. Rescuers were notified and immediately began searching for him, but only found his off-road vehicle. Only after 9 p.m. was he spotted by a resident of a nearby village. With thermal imaging, he was eventually located and rescued, at almost 5 a.m. the next day.

A thermal imaging camera on a drone captured this thermogram of a person lying on a boulder.

The man, covered in mud, was pulled up onto a life raft. He seems to be conscious still. This is a site manager for Matai’an Creek’s post-disaster reconstruction. He had been missing for 15 hours.

Lu Yen-jung
Hualien County Fire Department
We saw an area with a high thermal gradient. As the device got closer and closer, the red dot gradually took the form of a human, which made us sure that it was the missing person over there.

On Monday afternoon, as water levels surged amid the rain, the site manager for a contracted improvement project along Matai’an Creek got washed away with his off-road vehicle just as he was heading over to the site to pick up excavator operators. He’d called for help on the walkie-talkie and became unreachable shortly after being on the road.

Rescuers initially traced his tracks downstream, where they’d found his vehicle. The car key was still on the switch, and his phone was still inside, but he was nowhere to be found.

At nine in the evening, he was finally spotted by a resident of Atomo. The young man had heard him crying for help and saw him stranded on a boulder. However, it took another six to seven hours for rescuers to wade through the shoal and get him out, at 4:39 a.m. the following day.

Voice of local resident
Atomo
I heard someone crying for help. It came from a distance. Once they were sure that someone was yelling, they went down to the shoal. He responded with calls of “Help me! Help!” They went back and forth about a dozen times before the voices stopped.

Hsu Tzu-herng
Head of ER, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital
He has scratches and bruises all over the body, from the muddy water and sediments. He also has mild cerebral hemorrhage from impact. We referred him to a neurosurgeon, who will check on him as he remains in hospital care.

There’s nearly 10km in distance between where he was reported missing and where he was rescued, after 15 hours of grueling struggle in the open.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#weather #rain #rescue #missing #hualien

2026-06-09

Heaviest rainfall expected this Friday, to persist until following week

Heavy rainfall continued on Tuesday with floods reported in many areas in Northern Taiwan, including in Taoyuan and Keelung. Fallen branches were posing a hazard to road users, though fortunately no casualties were reported.

A large branch has collapsed onto transmission cables. A maintenance team shortly arrives on scene to saw it off by hand, to remove the road safety hazard. The borough warden warns passers-by to stay away.

There seems to be no end to the heavy showers. In the morning, here on Zhonghe Road in Keelung, the branch had fallen all of a sudden. Fortunately, it did not land directly onto the street. But it’s still suspended over a bus stop, so a city councilor stepped in.

Shih Wei-jeng
Keelung City Councilor (DPP)
The branch did not fall all the way onto the ground, but it’s putting a lot of strain on the four high-voltage cables. It’s also right above a bus stop, so we treated the removal as an emergency.

Meanwhile, the heavy downpours have flooded the intersection of Lunhou Road and Heping West Road in Taoyuan’s Dayuan District.

With the water reaching the calves, it’s as if the streets have turned into streams. It’s difficult for cars to move through the flood. A city councilor is pictured shoveling mud for better drainage. He’s also reported the flooding to the district office, and it’s cleared in about an hour.

On the other side of town, shrubs above the side slope are collapsing onto the street below. Large amounts of mud and rocks are strewn all over the road surface on Section 3, Dakeng Road in Guishan District, near Weitian Temple. Fortunately, it did not hit any vehicle or passer-by. Plum rains brought in by the stationary front and strong southwesterly winds have left many places flooded in Northern Taiwan. Even though the weather front will soon move away, the south will still get heavy rainfall.

Wu Wan-hua
Central Weather Administration
Tomorrow, even though the weather front will move southward slightly, there will still be heavy rain or localized downpours in Central and Southern Taiwan, and mountainous areas of Hualien and Taitung. Another rainy spell will return in the north on Friday as the weather front moves southward above the Bashi Channel on Thursday. With the influence of the southwesterly winds again, this rainy spell will begin on Friday and persist until next Monday or Tuesday.

Even though the rain may seem quite heavy already, the heaviest is still yet to come near the end of the week and persist over the weekend.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#flood #rain #weather #heavyrain #taiwan

2026-06-09

2,000 evacuated in mountains of Kaohsiung amid heavy rains

Heavy downpours continue to pound Taiwan. Over in Kaohsiung, authorities have issued 68 yellow alerts for landslides across mountainous areas. Police officers went door to door in vulnerable areas to help residents evacuate to shelters, with some 2,000 people relocated.

Over in Liugui, farmers were hard at work to minimize losses in the harvest season. They rushed to harvest wax apples and guavas and prevent the fruit from rotting in the rain. Betel nut farms were also hit hard, with many areas fully submerged in water. Farmers loaded as much fresh produce as they could to beat the bad weather. Concerned about their livelihoods, they say they hope the rains will let up soon.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#agriculture #waxapple #kaohsiung #guava #fruits

2026-06-09

Taiwan to host international firefighter conference in 2030

At the end of May, National Fire Agency Director-General Hsiao Huan-chang led a delegation to Japan for the International Fire Chiefs’ Association of Asia General Conference. In a major diplomatic breakthrough for Taiwan, Hsiao came back with two pieces of good news. First, Taiwan will host the association’s General Conference in 2030. Second, in a first for Taiwan, the director-general of the National Fire Agency will assume the association’s vice presidency in 2028.

A firefighter marches onto the stage proudly displaying Taiwan’s national flag—a rare sight at official international conferences.

National Fire Agency Director-General Hsiao Huan-chang led a delegation to Nagoya, Japan, to participate in the International Fire Chiefs’ Association of Asia General Conference. He brought back two pieces of great news.

Hsiao Huan-chang
National Fire Agency Director-General
Taiwan will host the 36th IFCAA General Conference in 2030. In 2028, we will go to Tokyo, which is hosting the conference that year, and take over responsibilities for the following conference. The organizers in Tokyo have also expressed hope that Taiwan will serve as the association’s vice president in 2028.

This would mark the first time the association has selected a Taiwanese vice president. In 2030, fire chiefs from around the globe will gather in Taiwan for the group’s General Conference. These achievements show that the international community recognizes Taiwan’s disaster relief capabilities.

Hsiao Huan-chang
National Fire Agency Director-General
Taiwan and Japan are prone to typhoons, earthquakes, and floods. Last year, Taiwan even faced a tsunami warning. Our shared goal is to ensure that the lessons we have learned through experience and training are passed on, so that other countries don’t repeat the same mistakes.

Cho Kuan-ting
New Taipei City Councilor (DPP)
I think it’s incredibly moving. It’s a breakthrough for us in terms of diplomacy, firefighting, and disaster relief.

Taiwan’s firefighting and disaster relief capabilities are shining brightly on the international stage.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Taiwan #IFCAA #Japan #diplomacy #firefighting #nationalflag #disasterrelief

2026-06-09

Girl put in full-body anesthesia after sticker earring gets lodged in ear

Stick-on earrings seem like a safe enough alternative to getting your kid’s ears pierced at a young age, but that doesn’t mean they are without risk. A 6-year-old girl found this the hard way recently, when she started feeling a discomfort inside her ear. Her mother took a peek inside and saw a glistening object lodged in the ear canal. She rushed her to the doctor to find that it was a stick-on earring that was dangerously close to the eardrum. To get it out, they had to put the kid under full-body anesthesia. Let’s hear more.

Mother
Daughter got sticker inside ear
The doctor said that the sticker was extremely close to the eardrum and couldn’t be pulled out. They were afraid that if they tried to pry it out, it could hurt the eardrum if she moved. When I saw it was a shiny red object, I guessed that it was something like this. I didn’t buy her the stickers, they were a gift she got at her cram school. I initially thought she had put it inside her ear on purpose, but she said she hadn’t. Maybe she tried to stick it on and it fell inside.

Lin Yung-zen
Pediatrician
If a sharp object punctures the eardrum, it can cause an infection. Over time, the body would secrete fluids and perhaps even form a membrane that covers up the entire object.

And sticker earrings aren’t the only hidden danger. Magnetic ball bearings are also quite popular as construction toys, but also quite dangerous for kids. A boy was recently reported to have swallowed 10 whole bearings, which became stuck together into a bar in his belly and ruptured a hole in his intestine. And you should also be very careful with water beads that swell when submerged in water. Another boy was also taken to the hospital after ingesting the beads, which swelled inside his body and blocked his guts.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#earring #accessory #jewel #sticker #magnet

2026-06-09

Grab holds presser ahead of planned Taiwan expansion

Earlier this year, the leading food delivery company in Southeast Asia, Grab, announced plans to buy Delivery Hero’s foodpanda delivery business in Taiwan for NT$600 million. The deal has sparked concerns about a monopoly in the setor as Uber holds 13% of Grab’s equity. On Tuesday, Grab held a press conference, where it outlined three key pledges for its expansion in Taiwan. One key theme was fairness, by guaranteeing delivery rider income, and attracting delivery riders working on foodpanda to switch to Grab. Let’s hear more.

Yee Wee Tang
Grab
Taiwan has lot of urban, a very strong very dense urban-cut cities. The Taiwanese are very digitally savvy, all of them use mobile phones for their day to day. So we felt it’s very easy for a platform like us to come into Taiwan. I think our approach is always the same in every market: being affordable so that we can grow the market together and being sustainable to all parties. Our most important point today is Grab currently does not have any presence in Taiwan. We will be a new independent player in this market.

Seeing the potential business opportunities in Taiwan’s NT$57.6 billion food delivery market, Grab is reaching out of Southeast Asia for the first time. The platform says it will provide drivers with a stable income, and is pioneering a system to compensate drivers for waiting at restaurants for too long. The platform also incorporates AI-powered route planning and AI mentors to help riders analyze how they can boost their earnings. Grab’s acquisition of foodpanda is still under review at the Fair Trade Commission.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#grab #foodpanda #delivery #fooddelivery #uber

2026-06-09

Vendor scales down banquet menu for sustainable small gatherings

Traditional “ban-doh” banquets don’t have to be shared by 10 people anymore! Hoping to serve demand for smaller group meals, one caterer has scaled back the portions into just enough for four. While preserving the must-have classics for any banquet, they also incorporated some creative and sustainable concepts, like serving appetizers inside ice cream cones. Tailored perfectly for individual portions, it’s a whole new way to enjoy traditional banquet culture.

Velvety mashed potatoes with chickpeas, salad greens, and maple syrup are tossed together and drizzled with mayonnaise before being topped with a single fresh shrimp and a final dusting of rainbow sprinkles. It might look like an ice cream cone, but it’s actually an appetizer for a traditional “ban-doh” banquet.

Chung Chia-pin
Legislator (DPP)
It’s my first time having a shrimp salad in an ice cream cone. It’s a new experience. Since smaller gatherings of three to five close friends are the norm now, a four-person banquet over two tables is ideal.

Catering to small households, single people, and intimate gatherings, this caterer scaled down the traditional 10-person banquet to serve only four people. The classic sticky rice cake is served in neat, compact portions, while the fish course is plated to resemble a bird in flight to symbolize “soaring to great heights.” The cabbage is arranged into delicate flowers to symbolize wealth and prosperity. Individual servings are the focus in this new style of catering, ensuring that everyone can eat their fill without producing too much waste.

Wu Yung-chiang
Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion
Whether it’s for the wedding sector or the broader food and beverage market, requests are becoming more customized and group sizes are shrinking across the board. A four-person package is usually under NT$10,000, a little over NT$9,000, and includes transport, DIY workshops, and a whole slate of other activities.

Beyond pushing culinary boundaries, this vendor is also incorporating principles of sustainability. The entire venue uses energy-saving facilities and has 110 bald cypress trees on the property for visitors to immerse themselves in nature while dining. They’ve also enlisted other eco-conscious brands to join in the sustainable movement, hoping this low-waste dining model will catch on across the traditional banquet market.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#banquet #traditionalbanquet #bandoh #sustainability #foodwaste #greendining #catering

2026-06-09

Kaohsiung high schoolers gently capture iguana on campus

Students and staff responded quickly when a green iguana wandered onto their high-school campus in Kaohsiung. Led by the dean of student affairs, six students used plastic fruit crates to herd and corner the iguana, successfully capturing it without causing it any harm. When a video of the capture was posted online, people praised how the students handled the situation calmly and considered the iguana’s safety.

Several students hold blue fruit crates, closing in on a green iguana that wandered onto their high-school campus.

Under their teacher’s supervision, the students surround the iguana as it darts to the other side of the hallway. When they get close enough, one of them covers it with a crate.

The team cheers as they finally capture their unwanted guest. Led by the dean of student affairs, who has lots of experience with animals, these six students were able to quickly and gently capture the iguana.

Ling Tzu-yun
School secretary
The dean is involved with some animal protection groups like shelters, so he deals with these animals in a friendly way.

Member of public
Approves of approach
Since animals generally won’t attack people unprovoked, I think handling it this way protects yourself and the animal.

The school said this is the first time a green iguana has come onto their campus. It might have been trying to find a place to escape the heat.

Ling Tzu-yun
School secretary
Our crafts classroom is in the basement. Perhaps because the weather has been very hot recently, that underground area is relatively cool and shaded.

The school reported the incident to the Agriculture Bureau, which came to take the iguana away. These students showed that even unfamiliar situations can be handled with care.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#greeniguana #iguana #campus #school #students #animalprotection #capture #environment

2026-06-09

Gecko staying in incense burner becomes star of temple ritual

If you live in Taiwan, you’ve probably encountered a gecko at home at some point, but have you ever seen one chilling inside an incense burner? Worshippers at a temple in Donggang were surprised to see that last weekend. A gecko found a temporary home for itself inside the censer for two days. It held tight and steady to the big incense stick in the middle, only taking a break to let temple priests change the spent stick to a new one. Geckos are thought to bring good luck in Taiwan, and its presence at the temple has been interpreted as a good omen.

The temple is bustling with worshippers attending a religious ceremony. But one participant caught special attention: a gecko holding on perfectly still to an incense stick inside the burner. The reptile was there for a whole two days, surprising visitors. A priest says he’s never seen anything like it.

Lee Ming-cheng
Priest
It’s the first time I saw this, and at a celebration! The gecko was perched there during the rituals. When we changed the incense sticks, it took a rest and climbed back up on the fresh ones.

The temple in question is the Seven Dragon Temple in Donggang, which held an enshrinement ceremony last weekend. Worshippers quickly found the gecko grabbing on to the incense stick in the censer outside. When the stick was burned up, the reptile took a break at the bottom, but as soon as a new stick was placed, it climbed back up and clung on as before. Could it also be trying to reach the gods?

Mr. Chen
Priest
Generally, our religion says that all living beings have a spirit, each with their own spirituality. It came to this auspicious place and communicated with our goddess. It stayed and followed her.

Lee Ming-cheng
Priest
It’s like a guardian, like a good luck charm. When it appears in our homes, it’s protecting our homes. So if it’s on the incense, it’s guarding the ember.

Geckos are thought as lucky animals that protect the places they visit, and some say they ensure good fortune for those who let them stay.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#gecko #cute #goodluck #goodfortune #protection #animals #lizard

2026-06-09

Taiwan shares freefall dragged by sharp sell-offs in US, Japan

Taiwan’s stock market opened drastically low and plummeted even lower on Monday, dragged down by sharp sell-offs in US, Japanese and South Korean Markets. The Taiex plunged by nearly 2,700 points in early trading, setting a new record for the largest intraday drop ever for the market. Retail investors were left reeling, while others moved in to buy the dip and loaded up on TSMC shares and the 0050 ETF, which ultimately helped the market recover some of its losses. Let’s hear more.

- I bought TSMC today.

- Did you get TSMC or the 0050 ETF?
- I didn’t get any.
- You didn’t? Why? Was it too late?
- The price I requested was too low.

Chang Yung-chuan
Cathay Securities Investment Trust
In the second half of the year, after market positions have been digested and stabilized, Taiwan stocks’ fundamentals will remain quite healthy. There is still an opportunity for the market to continue challenging new highs once this consolidation process is complete.

Many are referring to this day as “Black Monday.” Taiwan shares briefly fell to 42,376 points, a sheer drop of 2,694 points, and at one point 300 stocks were locked at the daily limit-down. Among the hard hit sectors were semiconductors and electronics, finance, traditional industries, memory-chip makers and shipping. Bargain hunters stepped in and trimmed some of the losses, resulting in a smaller drop of 1,568 points at closing, for 43,502. Institutional investors sold a net NT$133.9 billion, while foreign investors dumped NT$93.8 billion in shares.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#shares #stocks #tsmc #stockmarket #taiwanshares #TSMC

2026-06-08

Unlicensed bus driver carrying group of 15 tumbles off highway

A midibus driven by an unlicensed operator had tumbled Sunday evening while descending Hehuanshan’s North Peak. The group of 15 tourists from the Philippines and the driver sustained injuries after the bus tumbled 2m down the side slope of a hairpin bend amid the heavy rain. Of the two most severe cases, one had intracranial hemorrhage, while the other had pelvic fractures. The unlicensed driver was a freelancer registered on a contractual basis with a bus operator, on whom the police are now pursuing legal action.

- 91 arriving. Please report on the situation.

The ambulance is arriving on the scene of a car accident. The emergency response center asks personnel to report back on the situation, including the number of casualties, to determine whether to dispatch additional teams.

- How many are trapped? Please take a look and report back.

Emergency personnel pull the injured people up along the side slope. One had injuries to the head, while another had bone fractures. Others sustained relatively minor injuries.

- Are they out here for leisure or something else?
- To hike, and to see high mountain rhododendrons.

The incident took place on Wushe Township section of Provincial Highway 14 Sunday evening. A group of 15 tourists from the Philippines had traveled to Hehuanshan North Peak on a midibus. During the descent, the bus slipped on a turn and tumbled 2m down the side slope. All 15, plus a Taiwanese driver sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Chen Chong-ming
Puli Christian Hospital
The one that was sent to the ICU had intracranial hemorrhage, but not much bleeding. We’re monitoring the conditions, but for now there’s no need for surgery. The other patient has pelvic fractures, which requires surgery, but we’ll have to wait another day or two.

From an aerial view, the vehicle can be seen to have landed up-side-down, while the front end was left deformed from the impact. It had fallen along a hairpin turn. Was it because the driver was unfamiliar with the road conditions?

Cheng An-shun
Central Region Branch Office, Highway Bureau
The road was slippery because it was raining heavily, and the driver was too fast while making the turn on a downward slope, so the vehicle tumbled.

The police later found that the driver, a 42-year-old man surnamed Chang, only had a regular driver’s license. Worse, it had been invalidated. He does not have a professional large vehicle license. The offense is fineable by up to NT$80,000 on both the vehicle’s owner and the driver, with the vehicle confiscated on the spot.

Shih Chao-chen
Renai Precinct, Nantou County Police
Our investigation found that the driver surnamed Chang was not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, he is not a holder of a license of business
large passenger vehicle. Therefore, the police will pursue criminal action according to law.

Bus operator
Contracted with driver
The vehicle is registered with us on a contractual basis by a freelance operator. We’re still investigating the matter. We did arrive to inspect the scene at the time of the incident.

Our reporter went to the bus operator location in Hsinchu’s Hukou Township. The owner only told us that Chang is an individual operator registered with them on contract, and said nothing about him being unlicensed.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#traffic #roadsafety #unlicensed #tourbus #duediligence

2026-06-08

Coast Guard deploys vessels to respond to Chinese operation

Japan and the Philippines have agreed to negotiate their maritime borders in the waters east of Taiwan. But the discussions have not gone down well with China, which has launched a special “traffic enforcement” maritime operation in the area. Taiwan’s Coast Guard immediately deployed its Kaohsiung patrol vessel to shadow the Chinese flotilla and force them out. Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense says China’s actions are a provocative act of cognitive warfare, and a serious infringement on Taiwan’s national sovereignty. Let’s hear how it happened.

Government vessel
China
- Kaohsiung Vessel, both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. These are waters under China’s jurisdiction. Do not interfere with our official duties.

Kaohsiung Vessel
Taiwan Coast Guard
- China has no sovereignty whatsoever in waters east of Taiwan. Should a conflict occur, your side will face international sanctions.

Wellington Koo
Minister of National Defense
It was a provocation, a form of cognitive warfare, and a serious violation of our national sovereignty. The Ministry of National Defense and the Coast Guard will continue to coordinate closely and share intelligence.

The maritime standoff unfolded shortly after 2 on Saturday afternoon, when Chinese Coast Guard and government vessels entered Taiwan’s restricted waters approximately 30 nautical miles southwest of Cape Eluanbi. Flying maritime traffic enforcement flags, the vessels appeared to be attempting to reinforce Beijing’s claim that the Taiwan Strait constitutes China’s internal waters. Koo stressed that the Ministry of National Defense will continue coordinating with the Coast Guard to safeguard maritime security.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #china #philippines #japan #sealaw #marinelaw #sovereignty #water

2026-06-08

Popular Yunlin fishing spot littered with trash

The estuary in Yunlin County’s Mailiao Township is a popular fishing spot, but many people leave behind trash, littering the beautiful coastline with bottles and cans. Even after the government installed surveillance cameras, littering remains a problem. Now the county plans to increase the reward for reporting littering from 10% of the collected fine to 50%, incentivizing people to report offenders.

This once-beautiful coastline is now littered with bottles and cans.

Plastic and glass bottles make up most of the trash, even piled up into mounds in some places. This is in Yunlin County’s Mailiao Township, close to the estuary in Zhongxing Village. It’s a popular fishing spot, but the litter people leave behind is ruining the environment.

Member of public
Dismayed at litter
It looks like a lot of people are littering, which makes it really dirty. I think the government should step in. In lots of places, if no one is around, people will litter when no one is watching.

The trash was mostly left by people who came here to fish and has accumulated over time. According to the Yunlin Environmental Protection Bureau, there are 34 major littering spots in the county, mostly along roadsides, under bridges, and by rivers and drains. Even with surveillance cameras watching, people continue to litter. Now the government is planning to raise the reward for reporting littering from 10% of the collected fine to 50%.

Member of public
Supports higher reward
I personally support raising the reward. If it’s high enough, people will be more willing to report it.

Huang Fu-yi
Environmental Protection Bureau deputy director
We plan to amend the law to raise the reward to 50%, encouraging more people to participate in environmental issues.

From January to April this year there were 19 penalized cases of littering, with fines totaling NT$22,800. Raising the reward for reporting littering may help, but it depends on the public’s sense of responsibility and concern for the environment.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Yunlin #coast #fishing #coastline #litter #trash #bottles #cans #fines #reward

2026-06-08

Teacher dressed as priest holds ‘funeral’ for graduating seniors

It’s graduation season, and teachers are trying to come up with ever more creative ways to send off their students. One science teacher at Tsoying Senior High School in Kaohsiung dressed up as a Taoist priest to stage a mock funeral, offering “brains” and test papers to bless the graduates with intelligence and perfect scores. The students were duly impressed, saying he should get the MVP award.

A Taoist priest stands front and center, his expression solemn as he begins leading a funeral.

- We are gathered here today to send our third-years at Tsoying High off to the West... to college in the West.

The priest remains perfectly stoic as his fellow teachers in lab coats crack up. What comes next was even more dramatic.

-We offer a brain, in the hopes that everyone will grow a large brain.
-We offer a Newton’s cradle, in the hopes that everyone will become the next Sir Issac Newton.
-We offer a test paper, in the hopes that everyone will get perfect scores.

This ceremony was actually a special graduation message for the seniors of Kaoshiung’s Tsoying Senior High from the natural sciences faculty.

Back at the school, the teachers said that everything they used was improvised. The priest robes were made from a cheap plastic raincoat, and the headwear was also homemade.

-How long did it take you to make?
-Five minutes.
-That fast?

Hsu Ching-sung
Science teacher
It can be rough being a teacher, so I’m studying a few other skillsets. My colleagues suggested dressing up like a Taoist priest.

Student
Finds it funny
It was ridiculous, but I guess people who study science tend to be young at heart.

For this year’s graduation ceremony, other teachers also unleashed their creativity to varying degrees of comedic effect. Even the principal acted like an online influencer, giving his “followers” a tour of the campus.

Lin Pai-hung
Principal
The teachers here are all very down-to-earth and more than willing to work with the students to make engaging and entertaining videos.

By breaking away from rigid tradition, the faculty at Tsoying Senior High is making sure that their seniors are heading off to college with some unforgettable memories.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#graduation #graduationseason #Kaohsiung #Taoism #mockfuneral #youngatheart #students

2026-06-08

Heavy rains cause flooding all over Taiwan

On Monday, southwesterly winds and a stationary front brought heavy rains to much of the country. Many areas from the north to the south reported flooding, including Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taipei. The flooding in some areas reached almost to the top of car tires, causing disruptions to traffic and even a casualty.

Taipei’s plane-sighting alley, officially Lane 180 of Binjiang Street, is now so heavily flooded that a black sedan got stuck while another car quickly turns around at the sight.

The streets outside the main campus of Soochow University in Shilin have also turned into streams. Vehicles struggle to move, let alone pedestrians.

Over in Kaohsiung, the water has almost reached the top of tires. Huge splatters form even when driving on low speed.

Worse, the heavy rain and floods occurred during the morning rush hour. It was already too late for those heading to work on a scooter to turn around. Even with the tires almost entirely submerged, they hanged on and continued forward.

This sighting of vehicles-turned-boats was on Chengguan Road in Kaohsiung’s Renwu District. The rainfall was so heavy that the flood was formed within half an hour.

On the other side, on Fengren Road, also in Renwu District, the water has reached the ankles.

Over in Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, on the intersection of Mingcheng 1st Road and Dingshan Street, a drainage cover thudded up-and-down from the overflow underneath. Water jets erupted through the cracks, making a loud hum. The cover could almost fly off.

The rain also pummeled Tainan, flooding the intersection of Fuqian Road and Jinhua Road in West Central District.

The area around Xiluo Temple, also in West Central District was heavily flooded, too. A scooter quickly braked and turned around, afraid that the water would damage the engine.

In South District, low visibility caused a car driver to ram into an electricity pole. Fortunately, the driver only sustained minor injuries, and was taken to the hospital by emergency service.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#flood #rain #weather #heavyrain #taiwan

2026-06-08

VP Hsiao Bi-khim visits Palau National Congress

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim continues on her visit to diplomatic ally Palau. On the third day of her trip, she visited the Palau National Congress.

The itinerary included a ceremony marking Taiwan’s donation of four drones and a drone demonstration. Hsiao noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ newly established "Drone Diplomacy Task Force" will develop long-term cooperation programs with Taiwan’s diplomatic partners. At the Congress dome atrium, Hsiao and Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. delivered remarks and announced that Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau will send personnel to assist Palau in law enforcement efforts and strengthen cooperation against transnational organized crime. Hsiao also emphasized that both Taiwan and Palau are resilient island nations and should work together to ensure future generations inherit an Indo-Pacific region that is peaceful, prosperous, democratic and free.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#palau #taiwan #congress #蕭美琴

2026-06-08

Father and son fall face first after driving into ice chunk

In cold climates, drivers have to be wary of ice on the road, which can cause serious accident. But apparently even as far south as Tainan, ice is also a problem for scooter riders. A man carrying blocks of ice on his scooter caused a hazardous situation along Mingxing Road, after the blocks slipped off his vehicle and split into a dozen chunks on the asphalt. While some of the more attentive drivers were able to dodge them all without issue, a father who was carrying his son on a scooter was not so quick and rode straight into a chunk that sent them both tumbling down.

Blocks of ice fall from the scooter, causing icy chunks to go sliding in every direction. The driver stops to the side.

- It looks like the ice slipped off.

Scooters slow down and drive carefully to avoid the lumps of ice on the road. Four were able to get past the obstacle course just fine. But a fifth one, driven by a father carrying his son ran straight into the ice, resulting in a crash and fall. The father was furious.

- Why is there ice on the road!

The ice slipped off a scooter driving along Mingxing Road in Tainan’s South District, causing an unsuspecting road user to run it over and fall flat on his face.

Shopkeeper
Heard there was a crash
We heard there had been a crash. We went to have a look and saw the ice on the ground. They must have not packed it well, causing them to slip and fall.

Weng Yi-hsiu
Police officer
The driver and the passengers sustained abrasions and were taken to the hospital without life-threatening injuries. Both drivers tested negative for alcohol and carried licenses. A fine is to be issued in accordance with Article 30, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act.

Fortunately, the car behind braked in time to avoid a collision with the scooter. The father and son were not seriously injured, but the ice carrier will have to cover their medical expenses, plus pay a fine of between NT$3,000 and NT$18,000.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#ice #slippery #tainan #scooter #traffic #moving #lucky


2026-06-08

Scooter driver in Yunlin drives in superman pose

In Yunlin’s Citong Township, a scooter driver recently raced down the road driving in a superman position. Laying on his stomach, his hands were outstretched to the handlebars with his legs flying out behind him. A car passing by recorded it and posted it online, where it went viral. Police said driving this way is illegal and they would issue a fine.

- Someone’s driving a scooter lying down!

Passing vehicles couldn’t help but notice this driver’s unique style, lying on his stomach with his hands stretched to the handlebars, legs flying out behind him, like superman on a scooter.

- Did you see that guy going by?
- Yeah, he stretched his legs out behind him. He seemed really happy to be off work.
- What time did you see him?
- Around 4 or 5 p.m.

With his hands gripping the handlebars, his body is almost parallel to the ground, racing by at full speed.

Member of public
Commenting on rider
I bet he’s trying to reduce his wind resistance so he can drive faster. It’s definitely dangerous. If you run into a pebble, it’ll throw off the balance.

Chen Chih-jen
Police officer
Driving lying down contravenes the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act. He could be fined from NT$6,000 to NT$36,000 and his license plate may be suspended.

The police plan to notify the driver and issue a fine.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#driver #scooter #superman #illegal #driving #Yunlin #illegaldriving #fine

2026-06-08

Yellow orchid tunnel opens in Yilan after ideal growing season

The dancing-doll orchid tunnel in Yilan’s Yuanshan has finally made its debut for this year! Over 500 vibrant yellow orchids grow from an overhead trellis to form a spectacular hundred-meter-long tunnel of flowers. Cascading down like a golden waterfall, the sight has drawn scores of tourists hoping to capture the perfect photo, solidifying it as one of Yilan’s top summer attractions.

Rows of bright yellow flowers cascade down like a waterfall. As a gentle breeze sweeps through, their petals sway delicately back and forth, reminiscent of hundreds of tiny dancers pirouetting through the floral corridor. Even the rhinoceros beetles are enjoying the peaceful scenery.

- It’s beautiful. Just seeing it puts you in a great mood. So relaxing!

- There are more flowers. They’ve taken great care of them this year. I’ve been coming here for 16 years.

- It’s beautiful. Really like a tunnel of gold.

- It’s really a hidden gem of ours here in Yuanshan.

The annual golden orchid tunnel in Yilan’s Yuanshan has finally opened for the year. Over 500 dancing-doll orchids are suspended overhead, forming a golden canopy that extends for 100 meters. Visitors are eager to catch a glimpse of the dream-like scene.

Chang Shen-jung
Garden owner
This year’s golden dancing-doll orchids are the most beautiful we’ve had in our 16 years. The weather this winter was cold at night and hot during the day, which is ideal for growing orchids.

In addition to the golden tunnel, the garden has also made a rainforest-themed area this year, featuring exotic flora such as air and pitcher plants. As this limited-time floral display is only expected to stay in full bloom through mid-June, flower lovers are encouraged to plan a visit soon to catch Yilan’s most romantic summer backdrop before it fades.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#flowers #orchids #dancingdollorchids #yellow #Yilan #beautiful #blooming

2026-06-08