DPP township council candidate dies after collapsing on stage

Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) Chiu Feng-ing (邱鳳英), a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate for township councilor in Hualien County's Xincheng Township, died Wednesday morning after collapsing onstage at a Moon Festival event Tuesday night.

Chiu was singing onstage when she suddenly collapsed, according to sources. She was in cardiac arrest when ambulance personnel arrived and was pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts failed.

Chen Ching-feng (陳景豐), head of the DPP's Hualien chapter, said Chiu was a longtime party member who had worked as a councilor's aide.

After moving to Xincheng Township eight years ago, Chiu decided to run for office this year for the first time to speak up for local residents and help ordinary residents get more resources, Chen said.

The DPP's Hualien chapter said in a Facebook post Wednesday that it would carry on Chiu's love for the land, honor her spirit, and continue working for Hualien and its residents.

Three candidates were running for township councilor in Chiu's constituency, according to the Hualien County Election Commission.

The commission said it would consult the Central Election Commission on follow-up procedures following Chiu's death.