Taichung: Police are investigating whether illegal fishing practices were involved in the death of a Vietnamese man surnamed Tr?n, who was apparently electrocuted while fishing near the Xinguang Bridge in Taichung's Houli District. The Taichung Fire Bureau received a report of an incident near the bridge at 4:51 p.m., with responders finding a foreign male migrant worker at the scene with no signs of life. He was later confirmed dead at the hospital.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Dajia Precinct initially reported the man's identity as unknown. A 49-year-old man surnamed Hsu, who reported the incident, told authorities that he received a call from a Vietnamese man asking for help and immediately went to the scene. Police later contacted a 34-year-old Vietnamese man, surnamed H?, who identified the deceased as his fellow countryman, surnamed Tr?n.

H? stated that they had planned to go fishing on the river using electric fishing gear a week prior. He suspected that the rain during the incident may have caused their electric gear to malfunction, leading to an electric shock. Forensic examinations later confirmed the victim's identity as a 37-year-old Vietnamese man surnamed Tr?n.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact location of the incident, the equipment used, and whether any illegal activity was involved. Initially, firefighters suspected that the Vietnamese national was struck by lightning, but police later believed he was electrocuted due to a short circuit in his fishing gear.

Electrofishing is illegal in Taiwan under the Fisheries Act. Violators face up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to NT$150,000 (US$5,087).