■ ENVIRONMENT
Moderate quake hits south
A moderate 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck central Taiwan yesterday. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The Central Weather Bureau said the quake struck at 1:17am yesterday. It was centered 22.4km northeast of an earthquake recording station in Chiayi County.
■ TOURISM
Ex-UK Takao office closes
The former British Consulate at Takao in Kaohsiung has been shut down temporarily in preparation for a new exhibit introducing the history and culture of the famed tourist attraction. Shih Jhe (史哲), director-general of Kaohsiung City’s Culture Bureau, said the exhibit, organized by British Council Taiwan, would highlight long-term trade relations between Taiwan and the UK since 1864, when Kaohsiung Port first began operations. British architecture, music and design will also be featured in the digital art exhibition, Shih said. The consulate, whose construction was completed in 1879, is scheduled to reopen to the public on July 1. However, its outdoor cafe and indoor gift shop will remain open during the renovation, Shih said.
■ WEATHER
Storm may bring rain
The Central Weather Bureau said that a slow moving storm, Linfa, was located 630km southeast of Oluanbi (鵝鑾鼻) in Pingtung County yesterday. Bureau data showed that Linfa, the third tropical storm to form around Taiwan this year, had a radius of 100km, with maximum wind speed of 18 meters per second. Whether the storm would affect the weather in Taiwan needs further observation today, the bureau said, adding that the chances of rain in central and southern Taiwan would be high if the storm continued moving north.
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