Authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis said the body of a 33-year-old Chinese cruise passenger who disappeared last week while hiking Mount Liamuiga was found on Monday, ending days of search efforts on the eastern Caribbean island. Police identified the man as Wang Zyuan, who was last seen on May 27 on the Mount Liamuiga trail, a route on the dormant volcano that rises to nearly 3,800 feet and is the highest point on St. Kitts. According to police, Wang was hiking alone and had called 911 that afternoon to report that he was lost. Contact with him was later lost, and search teams were unable to locate him until his body was recovered days later.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and did not release a cause of death. In a statement, the police force expressed condolences to Wang’s family, friends and associates, and urged the public to avoid speculation and rely on official information as the case develops. Volunteers and crews from multiple agencies searched the area for several days before the body was found.
Mount Liamuiga is a popular hiking destination in St. Kitts, but cruise operators and tour providers have described the trek as highly demanding. One cruise company that promotes the trail on its website warns that the hike is extremely strenuous and that conditions can be muddy or slippery, especially in challenging weather or on uneven terrain. The trail’s steep and rugged path, combined with the island’s tropical conditions, can make the hike difficult even for experienced travelers.
The death has drawn attention to the risks of solo hiking in unfamiliar terrain, particularly on remote trails with limited visibility and changing weather. Authorities have not said whether any additional factors contributed to the incident. Local officials continue to review the circumstances surrounding Wang’s disappearance and death. The recovery of the body brought a tragic close to a search that had involved local police, volunteers and other responding teams across the mountainous area.
