Although Typhoon Dan continued a slow sweep westward toward Japan yesterday, weather officials warned of heavy downpours that could threaten tens of thousands of people in central Taiwan living in tents and other temporary quarters following the 921 earthquake.
"Heavy rains may persist today and tomorrow in Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties in southern Taiwan. Even a slight rain could lead to mudslides. The chance of rain is also high for the southeastern area," a forecaster said, as Typhoon Dan moved west-northwest at 10kph.
"The pace of the typhoon's movement has significantly slowed," the weather official said.
While the weather forecaster said little rain would fall in central Taiwan, which was hit hardest by the quake last month, he noted that the surface of the land there was extremely fragile.
Television footage showed military units going on alert to try and prevent landslides.
As of late last night, the eye of Typhoon Dan was centered 470km west-southwest of Hengchun.
The typhoon was expected to move west-northwest and possibly hit Hong Kong or neighboring regions sometime tomorrow.
High wave warnings for the Bashi Strait and the southern reaches of the Taiwan Strait remained in effect.
The warning came as 43 schools in Nantou County were closed for five days to house tens of thousands of homeless people who have been living in tents since the Sept. 21 earthquake.
In related news, Evergreen Marine Corp was also scrambling to set up 300 housing units converted from some of its containers, company officials said.
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