Wed, Jul 03, 2002 page2

• Typhoon, drought menace north

  WEATHER WATCH While many in the parched north of Taiwan are hoping for heavy rains, officials are warning that a typhoon could harm more than help

  • By Chiu Yu-Tzu / STAFF REPORTER
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  Residents in northern Taiwan should be prepared to cope with both an approaching typhoon and the continuing drought, officials of the Cabinet's drought disaster-

  relief center said yesterday.

  The Central Weather Bureau yesterday reported to Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪), the center's executive-general, on the progress of Ty-phoon Rammasun, which was then more than 800km away from Taiwan. Weather forecasters said that the typhoon might move toward sea areas to the north of Taiwan, affecting the nation today and tomorrow.

  Kuo said that she was looking forward to the typhoon's arrival because the heavy rains it would bring might ease the stress caused by the drought.

  "All water restrictions would be lifted as long as reservoirs get abundant rains, assuring water supplies," Kuo said.

  The bureau issued a warning yesterday about Rammasun to some 300 fishing vessels and ships in waters to the north of the Philippines. Weather officials said that ships in the Bashi Channel (巴士海峽) and seas to the east and north of Taiwan should be on alert for the typhoon.

  Scenic spots in Kenting National Park were also closed to the public yesterday afternoon as a precaution ahead of the storm.

  According to Chen Lai-fa (陳來發), director of the bureau's Forecast Center, the path the typhoon will take depends on the development of a Pacific high-pressure system. If the high-pressure system weakens slowly, Chen said, the typhoon might head toward northern Taiwan.

  "If so, northern Taiwan might get about 200mm of rainfall, while mountain areas about 300mm," Chen said, adding that torrential rains following the typhoon would affect central and eastern Taiwan.

  The Hualien County Government yesterday called for people to be prepared for mudslides that might be triggered by heavy rains.

  Meanwhile, water levels at two major reservoirs in northern Taiwan continue to drop. The water surface at Shihmen Dam in Taoyuan County stood at 204.3m yesterday -- or about 8.26 percent of the reservoir's capacity.

  At the Feitsui Reservoir (翡翠水庫), Taipei County, the water surface stood at 119.2m yesterday. Water stored at the reservoir was about 7.84 percent of its capacity.

  Taipei City Government officials said yesterday that if the surface level drops to 114m, the reservoir's water would be distributed by the central government rather than the city.

  In addition, city officials criticized Kuo for ordering the city last week to transfer water by truck from two reservoirs in Keelung and Hsinchu in order to satisfy the demands of swimming pool operators and the car-washing industry, which want 15,000 tonnes of water per day. The officials called her idea unprofessional.

  Deputy Taipei Mayor Ou Chin-der (歐晉德) said Kuo's idea would not work because water from reservoirs could not be used without being treated.

  Kao's suggestion was seen as a bid to limit the city's relaxation of water restrictions. On June 17, Tai-pei City began to supply water to swimming pools and car washes even though other areas continued to restrict such useage.
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