“Secret Waterfall” Trip Turns Fatal: Foreign Student Dies After He and 26 Friends Sneak Into Off-Limits Pingtung River Area

Location: Majia Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan, below Old Paiwan Village [舊排灣部落]. Locals say the correct name is Taigulavas Waterfall [太古拉筏斯瀑布].

The day out that became a distress call

Late last month, a getaway to a remote waterfall in Pingtung resulted in – yet another – sad death. On September 29, a group of 27 foreign university students from two Kaohsiung schools headed to the plunge pools under Old Paiwan Village. At 10:34, the Pingtung County Fire Bureau took the emergency call. By the time rescue teams reached the spot, the situation was dire.

Authorities say the students did not apply for the required mountain entry permits. First responders mounted a heavy search: 6 vehicles, 1 drone, 15 firefighters and 7 volunteers. The missing student, a 20-year-old Indonesian man surnamed Gan, was located at 13:10 in the plunge pool. He was pronounced dead at 16:52.

Secret-spot glow, deadly reality

Social media tags have glamorized “Salawan” as a must-see secret. Locals push back, insisting the correct name is Taigulavas Waterfall and calling it a sacred site instead of a swimming hole. The record is chilling: four incidents in a decade, six deaths. The tally includes three deaths in 2016, a Filipina worker’s death on June 12, 2024, a presumed drowning on May 25, 2025, and the September 29, 2025 fatality.

Professionals warn that the waterfall’s plunge pool can trap even competent swimmers. As one rescuer put it, “The plunge pool is at least 10 meters deep, with a strong undertow and powerful whirlpools. Dives are incredibly risky.”

Permits, fines and the blame game

Police said all 27 students entered without permits and will be referred for penalties under the Social Order Maintenance Act Article 71, with fines up to NT$6,000. The fallout has been fierce. Critics question school pre-trip briefings and peer pressure. Others are demanding stricter gatekeeping of permit procedures and more starkly clear bilingual warnings. Indigenous leaders have urged cultural respect and proper naming.

Impact

Why it matters

This tragedy punctures the glossy “secret spot” fantasy that drives risk-taking at remote sites. Ignoring rules against traveling to such sites too often results in costly rescue burdens, and strains on fragile mountain environments – to say nothing of the poor reflection it shows on international student safety. It also spotlights Indigenous cultural rights around sacred places and hopefully forces authorities to confront the basics: permits, signage, and enforcement that actually reach first-time visitors unfamiliar with Taiwan’s mountain water hazards.

Statistics

Key numbers tied to Salawan or Taigulavas Waterfall incidents and the September 29, 2025 case.

Zoom out

The Salawan or Taigulavas debate is over more than a name. It is a stress test for how Taiwan balances tourism hype, safety rules, and Indigenous stewardship. Until permits are respected and warnings are seen, the next rain-swollen current could turn another selfie spot into a disaster scene.