(ECNS) -- Authorities have launched an investigation into a summer camp after an 8-year-old autistic boy went missing for over 72 hours during climbing Cangshan Mountain in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The summer camp, named "Tomorrow's Light", claims to treat autistic children using natural healing methods.
At around 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, Wang Yikai, the 8-year-old boy, was found missing from the summer camp group during the hiking.
Local authorities have launched a large-scale search operation, deploying rescue dogs, drones, and thermal imaging equipment. As of 12:00 on Tuesday, the boy remained missing.
According to professionals, the climate in the Cangshan area is capricious. Even in summer, the temperature can drop sharply to several degrees Celsius. Moreover, there is much cloud and fog in the mountains, with rain all year round and very low visibility, making it difficult for explorers to distinguish directions. Most parts of Cangshan are currently primeval forests, with numerous valleys, cliffs, and precipices. There are almost no paths to follow.
Li Sheng (pseudonym), a roller-skating coach who once taught the boy, noted that he could only engage in basic communication. "For example, he could answer questions like his mom's name, his age, or recite simple poems. However, his motor skills were quite strong — he could run very fast."
The incident has sparked discussion on Chinese social media Weibo. Some netizens argue that the child is too young to attend such a camp by himself, while some question why the summer camp didn't put a GPS tracker on the child.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
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