Pingtung: Three men from Kaohsiung drowned Wednesday while allegedly swimming in a mountain stream at Haishengong, a popular but restricted scenic spot in Pingtung County's Sandimen Township, local authorities said.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Pingtung Bureau of Fire and Emergency Services received a report at 3:23 p.m. about several people drowning at a location approximately 30 minutes from the Haishengong parking lot. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched, and emergency responders pulled the three men from the stream, but none showed vital signs at the scene. Despite being rushed to the hospital, they were later pronounced dead.

Police identified the victims as two 44-year-old men surnamed Huang and Kuo, and a 38-year-old man surnamed Lin. The three had traveled together from Kaohsiung to spend the day at Haishengong. Authorities noted that Haishengong is on private land and not open to the public, making the visit unauthorized.

Rainfall in the mountains during the plum rain and summer flood seasons can quickly cause flash floods, rendering the area particularly dangerous. Officials urged visitors to avoid the site due to these risks. Police and prosecutors are continuing to investigate the cause of the deaths.

According to fire bureau records, four drowning incidents have occurred at Haishengong in the past five years, resulting in six deaths and one injury.