-
A child sits on mud caused by Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines - Source: Reuters -
Related
Schools were closed and domestic ferry services in the capital
Manila were suspended as Philippine authorities braced for a third
strong typhoon in five weeks.
Mirinae, a category 2 typhoon with maximum centre winds of 150 kph
and gusts of up to 185 kph, was expected to make landfall on
Saturday, dumping rains on major rice-producing provinces north of
the capital.
The same areas were submerged in floodwaters just a few weeks ago
when Typhoon Parma hovered for a week over the north.
"The critical period is between late on Friday night and early on
Saturday morning because the typhoon is expected to pass through
the ... capital," Nathaniel Cruz, chief weather forecaster, told
reporters.
"We expect heavy rains that could bring floods and landslides in
northern Luzon island," he said.
Troops across Luzon island were placed on stand by for emergency
operations, said army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Marcelo Burgos,
a day after army trucks loaded with food and relief goods were sent
to areas in the path of the new typhoon.
Thousands of people were stranded in several key ports on Luzon
after the coast guard grounded all ferries.
Schools were closed to prepare for housing families who may be
displaced by floods and landslides.
In late September, typhoon Ketsana dumped more than a month's worth
of average rainfall on Manila and surrounding areas, leaving tens
of thousands of people homeless and damaging more than 180,000
tonnes of paddy rice.
About 80% of the capital was submerged by two-three metres of
floodwaters.
Nearly a month later, some areas remained flooded, causing a
bacterial infection outbreak that has killed nearly 200
people.
Another typhoon, Parma, hit the country's northernmost tip early
this month, taking the death toll from the two typhoons to more
than 920 people.
Damage to crops and infrastructure was estimated at nearly 38
billion pesos ($1.09 billion).
World News Video
-
Dangerous rush to Everest summit (1:59)
-
Dozens killed in Syrian massacre (2:09)
-
'King of Romance' competes in Eurovision (1:46)
