18-month-old drowns at infant daycare center in Hsinchu County

Taipei, Oct. 15 (CNA) An 18-month-old girl drowned after falling into a pond at an infant daycare center in Zhubei City, authorities in Hsinchu County said Wednesday.

The Hsinchu County Fire Bureau said it received a report around 11 a.m. on Oct. 8 of a drowning at an infant daycare center.

Rescuers found the girl with no heartbeat, but she briefly regained breathing and pulse on the way to the hospital before being pronounced dead, according to the bureau.

The Hsinchu County Government said in a statement that staff were sent the same day to the hospital to accompany the girl's family and to the daycare center to review surveillance footage, inspect the premises, and check staff arrangements.

Investigators found the child had apparently fallen into the pond while watching the water surface, the county said.

Her caregiver failed to notice her absence until another staff member conducted a headcount and discovered she was missing.

The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office said a prosecutor and a medical examiner carried out an inspection, preserved evidence, and will continue the investigation into potential criminality.

The county government said it also launched an administrative probe and formed a task force to question personnel and review possible negligence or management failures.

It said penalties will be issued based on the findings under the Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act and related childcare regulations.

If daycare staff are found to have violated the law, they could face fines between NT$60,000 (US$1,967) and NT$600,000, and their names could be made public, the county added.

The daycare itself could also face the same range of fines or face suspension for one month to one year under the law, the county government said.

Officials said the daycare, which cannot be named in the media for legal reasons, has been required to hold a parent meeting and is coordinating with a nursery association to help relocate children to nearby centers.

Counselors have also been sent to the facility to provide support, according to the county government.

The legally registered operator of the daycare center, surnamed Wang (王), told reporters on Wednesday she would fully cooperate with investigators, comply with government directives, suspend operations, and assist families in transferring their children to other daycare centers.

Wang also expressed her deepest apologies to the public.