Dapeng New District in Shenzhen issued the country’s first statutory penalty under a comprehensive natural-disaster regulation  Aug. 15 after two hikers entered a temporarily designated danger zone during a typhoon alert. Each hiker was fined 5,000 yuan (about US$696).

The Nan’ao Subdistrict Office said the two hikers went into a restricted mountain area July 19 after the city had activated a blue alert for Typhoon Wipha. They subsequently became trapped and were rescued after a 12-hour search operation. By the time they were evacuated, the alert had been upgraded to orange.

Rescuers search for two hikers trapped in a restricted mountain area during a typhoon alert in Dapeng on July 19.  

Photos from WeChat account "Shenzhen Economic Daily"

Under the city’s natural-disaster prevention and control regulation that took effect in 2023, district and municipal governments may temporarily designate areas where natural disasters could cause casualties or major property loss as off limits. Violators can be fined between 5,000 and 20,000 yuan and are liable for any rescue costs incurred.

In June 2024, Dapeng New Area became the first district-level jurisdiction in Shenzhen permitted to delineate such danger zones. When specified disaster warnings are in force, the core area of the Dapeng Peninsula Municipal Nature Reserve, the Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark, and the maritime zones under Dapeng New District’s jurisdiction may be declared temporary natural-disaster danger zones.