Taiwanese hiker confirmed dead in China's Qinghai after mass stranding

Taipei, Oct. 9 (CNA) A Taiwanese national died of hypothermia and altitude sickness Monday after being caught in heavy snowfall while hiking in the Laohugou area of China's Qinghai Province, which stranded more than 250 hikers, according to Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

The deceased individual was among hikers stranded by severe weather in the Laohugou area on Sunday while traversing from Gansu Province to Qinghai Province, Chinese media Red Star News reported Wednesday.

By around noon Tuesday, all 251 people who had been stranded in the area were brought to safety, but one Taiwanese hiker died of hypothermia and altitude sickness, the report said.

In response to media inquiries, the SEF, a semi-official body responsible for managing cross-strait exchanges between Taiwan and China, confirmed Thursday that the Taiwanese national died on Monday.

In a statement, the foundation said it received a call Tuesday from a company reporting that its employee stationed in China fell ill while hiking during a holiday and, amid heavy snowfall, died of altitude sickness and hypothermia.

China observed an eight-day national holiday from Oct. 1-8 for National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival, prompting many people to travel domestically.

Both the SEF and the Mainland Affairs Council -- the top government agency handling cross-strait affairs -- declined to disclose the deceased's age, gender, or employer in response to CNA's request, citing personal data protections and the family's wishes.

The SEF said it outlined for the company the steps for document authentication and customs clearance for cremated remains when the firm sought guidance on follow-up arrangements.

The foundation said it asked a Taiwanese business association in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, to help confirm details with the local Taiwan Affairs Office, which is run by Chinese authorities.

The deceased person's family is scheduled to fly to China Thursday afternoon, meet company staff, and then travel to Qinghai Province to handle follow-up arrangements, according to the SEF.