While the four victims huddled together against the raging torrent, calls for assistance went out to the National Fire Administration (NFA), the National Police Administration (NPA), and the Air Force, which one after the other failed to respond.
由於當天下午溪水暴漲至工人被沖走的三個小時內，包括嘉義縣消防局、消防署、警政署與空軍水上基地，不是人力、器材不足，就是推說非其責任範圍而不願出手救援，終導致此一悲劇發生。