Rescue footage shows the Ao-Tai route, stretching from Aoshan Mountain to Taibai Mountain, is covered with snow, and weather conditions are severe. Photo: screenshot of video clip uploaded online

Local authorities in Taibai county, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, have launched an all-out search and rescue operation after five people illegally crossed the Aoshan Mountain, leaving four missing, two of whom were later found dead, while another had fallen off a cliff, media reported on Tuesday.

According to the Taibai county emergency management department, police received a call at 11:00 am on January 3 reporting that several people had lost contact while attempting to traverse Aoshan Mountain. Investigations showed that at around 2:00 am on January 2, five non-local individuals deliberately avoided management stations and illegally entered the mountain area from a location about 23 kilometers near a township. One person managed to descend on his own on the morning of January 3, while the other four went missing, The Paper reported on Tuesday.

The county immediately activated its emergency response mechanism, mobilizing multiple departments, four professional rescue teams, and local residents to carry out search operations. Officials from the Baoji municipal government also went to the scene to coordinate rescue efforts.

At 11:00 am on January 4, rescue teams successfully rescued one missing person, who was in good physical condition.

The report said that rescue operations have been extremely difficult due to the region's complex terrain, rapidly changing weather, deep snow, strong winds, heavy fog, and nighttime temperatures that can drop to minus 27-28 degrees. The search area is extensive, and the missing individuals were not carrying satellite positioning devices, making precise positioning difficult.

At 4:30 am on Monday, local authorities mobilized additional rescue teams, including the Leiting Rescue Team and local volunteers, and deployed a helicopter for the operation.

The rescue teams discovered two missing individuals at around 4:00 pm later on Monday. Both were found with no signs of life, and authorities are currently verifying their identities with family members. 

The final missing person was found to have fallen off a cliff during the expedition. Due to the extremely steep terrain and high cliffs, rescuers were unable to reach the scene on foot, and a helicopter rescue operation is ongoing.

The Ao-Tai route, stretching from Aoshan Mountain to Taibai Mountain, lies within the core zone of a national-level nature reserve, where unauthorized entry is strictly prohibited. Since April 2024, the Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve has explicitly banned illegal crossing and adventure activities above 2,000 meters in elevation. Violators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Local authorities again warned that illegal crossings carry extreme risks and urged the public to respect regulations, respect nature, and value life.

Global Times