Mainland's final consignment of prefab houses arrive in Taiwan

KAOHSIUNG, Aug. 31 -- A final consignment of 400 prefabricated houses from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan arrived in Kaohsiung on Monday night to boost Typhoon Morakot relief efforts.

The houses were shipped from Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province.

The shipment brings the number of prefabs delivered to the island to 1,000.

Earlier consignments amounting to 600 prefab houses were sent to Pingtung County and Kaohsiung County, both hit badly by the typhoon.

The Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) has again expressed its gratitude to the mainland for the assistance in a press release.

The typhoon ravaged Taiwan in early August, killing nearly 500 people and forcing the evacuation of thousands. It was the worst typhoon to hit the island in nearly 50 years, and caused havoc across the island's central and southern regions.

The manufacturers of the prefabricated units have sent 10 technicians to Taiwan to help with installation.