Premier Mao Chi-kuo has called on authorities to monitor both the ongoing drought and a typhoon which has formed in the Pacific.
Taiwan has received some much-needed rain in the past several days, in the face of the worst drought that the country has seen in 67 years. Authorities have called off phase three water rationing in parts of Taoyuan City and New Taipei City which are served by Shihmen Reservoir.
But even though the recent rain has increased water reserves, many of the nation’s reservoirs are still facing shortages. Mao called on water authorities to remain vigilant.
Meanwhile, Mao called on authorities to monitor Typhoon Noul, which has formed in the waters to the southeast of Taiwan. As of Thursday evening, Taiwan time, the moderate typhoon was moving in a west-north-westerly direction toward the Philippines at 20 km. per hour.
It’s still too early to predict the typhoon’s exact course. But the Central Weather Bureau’s web site features a possible trajectory that shows the typhoon hitting the Philippines and then moving northward up the east coast of Taiwan.