Authorities in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis have recovered the remains of a 33-year-old Chinese traveler who vanished while hiking alone on one of the Caribbean island’s most challenging backcountry trails nearly a week prior. The missing hiker, identified as Wang Zyuan, was a passenger on an international cruise that docked at the Caribbean destination, and his disappearance sparked a multi-agency search effort that spanned days across the rugged slopes of Mount Liamuiga.
According to official statements from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Wang set out on a solo hike of the Mount Liamuiga trail on May 27. By the afternoon of the same day, he placed an emergency call to local 911 services, alerting responders that he had become disoriented and lost within the mountain’s dense, uneven terrain. Shortly after that initial call, however, police lost all communication contact with Wang, leaving search teams with few clues to pinpoint his location.
Over the course of the following week, combined search crews from multiple local agencies joined by civilian volunteers carried out exhaustive sweeps of the volcanic peak’s slopes and surrounding wilderness. The search concluded on Monday, when crews located Wang’s body. As of the latest update, law enforcement officials have not released any information regarding the cause of death, noting only that the investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing, with further details to be released as they become available.
Located in the northern part of St. Kitts, Mount Liamuiga is a dormant stratovolcano that stands as the highest point on the island, reaching an elevation of nearly 3,800 feet above the Caribbean Sea. The trail leading to the volcano’s crater rim is a popular advertised activity for cruise passengers visiting the island, but the cruise line that promotes the route explicitly warns visitors that it is an extremely strenuous backcountry hike. The trail’s surface is frequently loose, muddy, or slippery due to the island’s tropical climate, creating additional hazards for even experienced hikers venturing out alone.
This report draws on official information from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, with additional contributing reporting from The Associated Press. The story was compiled from reporting based in Los Angeles.