Forecasters at the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday that residents will have a cold, damp Lunar New Year holiday, with more rain expected beginning tonight in northern and eastern parts of Taiwan because of the approach of a cold front.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) reminded residents that garbage collection will cease for three or four days during holidays.
Yesterday's heavy fog in the north, and in islands in both Kinmen County and Matsu County, led to the closure of both local and international flights, causing dozens of flights to be cancelled. Last night, it began to rain in the north, and damper days lay ahead, forecasters say.
"Showers will be seen in the northern, eastern, and northeastern parts of the island on Monday," weather bureau meteorologist Wang Yao-hua (
For tomorrow, which will be the Lunar New Year's eve, rainfall might be heavier in central Taiwan. Forecasters advised residents to carry umbrellas with them between today and Friday.
Meanwhile, EPA officials yesterday urged the public to seize the last chance to throw out unwanted pieces of furniture and garbage before Wednesday, the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Officials said that routine garbage collection service would stop on Feb. 9 nationwide, and the suspension will last for either three or four days, depending on the decision of each local environmental bureau.
In Taipei City, today is the last chance for residents to throw out large pieces of unwanted furniture and recyclable materials. Tomorrow, this service will stop, but routine garbage collection service will remain available through midnight. From Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, there will be no routine garbage collection service in the city. All services will return to normal on Feb. 12.
In Kaohsiung City, on Feb. 8, routine garbage collection service will be available through midnight. However, a collection service for larger pieces of waste and recyclable materials will only be available until noon. From Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, there will be no routine garbage collection service in the city. All services will return to normal on Feb. 12.
EPA officials said residents can contact local environmental bureaus to arrange a time to pick up waste from their homes.
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