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Worms warn that another major quake may be due

After the 921 earthquake and the most recent May 17 tremors, signs of another big quake have been reported, worrying local residents in central Taiwan.

Thousands of earthworms, a sign -- according to local custom -- that predicts the coming of a high-magnitude earthquake, have appeared at the Changan Elementary School (長安國小) campus in Hsinchu's Kouhu township (新竹口湖鄉) over the past two days, it was reported in local papers.

The school's principal said yesterday that thousands of earthworms came up from the slopes behind the school and all headed south.

Most of the earthworms were later found, dead, on the concrete floor in the school.

The floor lies four meters below the slope that the earthworms had been traveling on.

The worms' unusual behavior has done nothing to quell residents' fears that another high-magnitude quake might occur.

On May 17, four intense quakes, with magnitudes above four on the Richter scale, occurred within thirty minutes in central Taiwan.

Worms coming out of the ground and other strange sightings were reported before the September quake last year.

Residents responded quickly to the situation, owing to their experience from the 921 Earthquake, and stayed outdoors for the rest of the night.
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