Miaoli: Two men died after a sedan they were traveling in was hit by rocks on a county road in Miaoli County Wednesday, the local fire bureau said. The 5th Fire Control and Rescue Group of the Miaoli County Fire Bureau reported receiving a call at 3:19 p.m. about a red sedan being crushed by a rockfall on County Highway 62-1 in Tai’an Township near Ching An Elementary School.

According to Focus Taiwan, first responders arrived at the scene to find two men trapped and unresponsive in the severely damaged vehicle, which was partially buried under a large boulder. The driver, a 59-year-old man identified by his surname Tu, was extracted first but was found to be without vital signs and later declared dead at Da Shuen Hospital in neighboring Dahu Township. The passenger, seated next to the driver, suffered severe head injuries and was apparently dead at the scene, though his identity remains unconfirmed, according to the Miaoli County Police Bureau.

Tai’an Township chief Chen Chi-chi noted that the fatal incident followed the return of sunny weather after the region experienced heavy rainfall for most of the previous month. The Miaoli County Transportation and Public Works Department has since urged road users to exercise extra caution due to the increased risk of rockfalls after several days of rain, particularly along County Highway 62, a route leading to the popular Tai’an Hot Springs tourist attraction.

While rockfalls are rare on County Highway 62-1, the department advised travelers to remain vigilant when journeying through the mountainous area.