Yilan's Taipingshan closed until May 6 due to road collapse

Taipei, April 30 (CNA) Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area will be closed until next Tuesday after a landslide caused part of a roadway to collapse on the access road into the park, forestry authorities said Wednesday.

In a press release, the park headquarters said the landslide occurred on a slope below the 7-kilometer marker of Yilan Exclusive Highway No. 1 (宜專1線), which caused the outer lane of the road to collapse.

As the collapsed area is at risk of expanding, Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area was closed with effect from 3:30 p.m., the office said, adding it tentatively plans to reopen the park next Tuesday.

The Yilan branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said the subgrade of around 15 meters of roadway collapsed in the landslide, which stretched about 10 stories down a mountain slope below the highway.

Following the collapse, forestry officials were dispatched to help the 682 people inside the park safely exit and travel down the mountain, the agency said.