Indigenous-sourced mountain rescue teams being formedBy Lee Wen-hsin and Jason Pan / Staff reportersMountain rescue teams crewed by indigenous personnel are being established by the Ministry of the Interior in 12 regions, the National Fire Agency (NFA) said in a news release. The Indigenous Special Search and Rescue Teams, administered by the NFA, would start work in May when Taiwan’s rainy season starts, said Deputy Minister of the Interior Wu Tang-an (吳堂安). The program would be anchored around the idea of “mutual assistance, self-help and helping neighboring communities,” Wu said. NFA Director Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) said his agency is designing a uniform for team members that reflects their indigenous heritage. After completing training and entering active service, members would receive hazard pay for each search and rescue call-out, he added.

Source: Taipei Times January 23, 2026 17:28 UTC