Island of Taiwan in grasp of major drought – Taiwan A lack of rain over the past year has sent the island of Taiwan into its worst drought in more than half a century, the BBC reports, with many of its reservoirs at less than 20 percent capacity, with water levels at some falling below 10 percent. Normally one of the wettest places in the world with a tropical to subtropical climate, no typhoon or monsoon hit the island last year and there has been little rain. The lack of water is hurting a key industry â semiconductors, computer chips â made by Taiwanese companies. Around 90% of the most advanced microchips are manufactured in Taiwan, key to objects ranging from ventilators to smartphones and valued at US$100 billion. (LINK). HIWI042021-04-23T11:08:52+02:00