1 dead, 5 injured in Yilan river rafting accident

Taipei, June 8 (CNA) One tourist died and five others sustained minor injuries Sunday afternoon when a rubber raft capsized on Yilan County's Annong River, throwing all nine people aboard into the water, rescuers said.

According to the Yilan County Fire Bureau, the incident occurred around 1:42 p.m. beneath a bridge at the intersection of Section 6, Annong North Road and Ji'an Road in Sanxing Township.

The deceased was a woman in her 50s, surnamed Chen (陳), who was found unresponsive and rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Preliminary reports from local police indicate the raft may have struck a submerged bamboo stalk, causing it to overturn.

Five other tourists suffered minor injuries but remained conscious and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The remaining two tourists and the instructor were unharmed.

Following the incident, police seized the raft and requested an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and further clarify the circumstances of the accident.