Taiwan doomsday prophet investigated for shipping container sale conspiracy

Police in Taiwan are investigating a self-proclaimed prophet whose doomsday warnings on a blog have caused panic. The man, identifying himself as Teacher Wang, said Taiwan would be struck by a magnitude-14 earthquake and 170m (560ft) high tsunami on 11 May.

He suggested people live in shipping containers to survive the disaster, which would kill millions of people and split the island in half. More than 100 cargo containers have been bought and set up in the town of Puli in central Taiwan.



Police said they were investigating if the blogger had conspired with a container business to defraud people. The containers cost about $5,500 (£3,300) each, once water and electricity are included. Workers had been hired to fit them with doors, windows and air conditioning.

The police have not been able to trace "Teacher Wang" and authorities have removed his doomsday warnings from the internet. Fraud convictions carry a maximum five-year jail term while breaking the law on social order is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.