Some 1,200 Chinese fishermen and laborers have been allowed to seek temporary shelter from Typhoon Sinlaku by staying aboard anchored vessels in various ports in northern and northeastern Taiwan.
Of that total, 950 Chinese fishermen and laborers, who have been working aboard Taiwanese fishing boats, were given permission to take shelter aboard eight anchored vessels, better known as "floating hotels," in the Nanfangao fishing port in Ilan County.
Another 100 Chinese were allowed to board two "floating hotels" anchored at the Tahsi fishing port in Ilan County for temporary shelter.
Taichung
In Taichung seaport, 54 Chinese fishermen have gone aboard 13 anchored vessels to take shelter from the approaching typhoon.
The Ilan County Government has informed operators of the "floating hotels" within its jurisdiction that they can relocate the Chinese fishermen to land for safer shelter as the Central Weather Bureau issued a land warning for the typhoon.
Once on land, the Chinese fishermen can stay either at the Suao Fishermen's Association Building or at schools near the fishing ports, officials from the Ilan County Bureau of Agricultural Affairs said.
Meanwhile, the Hsinchu City Government yesterday opened its newly completed shelter for Chinese citizens working aboard Taiwan-owned fishing boats.
Sixteen Chinese fishery workers and 15 crew members of a Panamanian ship which ran agr-ound off the coast of Hsinchu Wednesday were allowed to go ashore and take shelter at the Nanliao Chinese fishery workers service center, the Hsinchu Fishery Industry Association said.
Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (
Military preparations
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense set up an anti-typhoon operations center under the leadership of Deputy Chief of the General Staff Liu Kui-li (劉貴立).
The center has in turn instructed headquarters of all military branches, combat operations units and offshore defense units to be ready to contribute to civilian rescue and relief operations upon request.
RSS