By 7:15pm yesterday, the highest accumulated rainfall was reported in Shangdewen (上德文) in Pingtung County, which topped 789mm. It was followed by Taian (泰安) in Miaoli County and Dahu (大湖) in Chiayi County, each with accumulated rainfall of 703mm.
While Typhoon Morakot battered Taiwan and caused isolated damage, its heavy rains have also replenished the country’s reservoirs, easing mounting fears of a looming drought and water rationing.
The nation’s reservoirs accumulated an additional 167 million cubic meters of water because of the storm, which the Water Resources Agency yesterday will bring an end to night-time water rationing in Keelung City, Taoyuan County, Tainan City and Tainan County.
In the north, the storm contributed 20 million cubic meters of water to Feitsui Reservoir, raising its level to 150.95m as of yesterday noon, less than 20m short of its capacity.
The reservoir will consider releasing water if the water level goes above 163m.
Shihmen Reservoir has gained approximately 80 million cubic meters of rainwater, raising its level to 230.8m as of 10am yesterday. The reservoir’s maximum level is 245m.
In the south, Tsengwen Reservoir had collected about 40 million cubic meters of water, while Wushantou and Paoshan reservoirs also received large volumes of rainfall.
The level of stored water at Nanhua Reservoir had risen to 175.34m by 1pm yesterday, close to its full supply level of 180m.
In related news, Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) officials said yesterday that police are tracking the owner of a fake Central Personnel Administration (CPA) Web site that posted unauthorized announcements on school and office closures for Typhoon Morakot.
At around 1pm on Thursday, the Web site announced that all schools and government offices in northern and central Taiwan would be closed yesterday because of the storm.
As the site appeared similar to the CPA’s official site, it convinced many Internet users that the announcement was made by the CPA. It was only after checking with their local governments that users realized they had been fooled, though the CWB made the same announcement later on Thursday.
The CIB launched an investigation into the case and discovered that the Web site fell under Chunghwa Telecom’s domain.
The telecoms company was cooperating with police in checking the site’s IP address. Police would likely arrest the owner if the address is confirmed to be local, CIB officials said.
While the CPA has requested that the owner be charged with forgery, the officials said the suspect may not be convicted if the act was intended simply as a prank.
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