Ten dead, thousands evacuated as Typhoon Rammasun / Glenda passes Philippines capital Manila Updated 5 minutes ago scontent-b.cdninstagram/hphotos-xaf1/t50.2886-16/10564155_258305531038753_2146441933_n.mp4 A typhoon killed at least 10 people as it churned across the Philippines and hit the capital, prompting the evacuation of almost 150,000 people and shutting financial markets, government offices and schools. The eye of Typhoon Rammasun, known locally as Glenda, has passed to the south of Manila after cutting a path through eastern islands, toppling trees and power lines and causing electrocutions and blackouts. It brought storm surges to Manila Bay and prompted disaster officials to evacuate slum-dwellers on the capitals outskirts. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, said there was minimal damage in the capital but staff were trying to rescue people trapped by fallen debris in Batangas City to the south where two people were electrocuted. We have not received reports of major flooding in Metro Manila because the typhoon did not bring rain, but the winds were strong, he said. A 25-year-old woman was killed when she was hit by a falling electricity pole as Rammasun hit the east coast on Tuesday, the Philippine disaster agency said. A pregnant woman was killed when a house wall collapsed in Lucena City in Quezon province south of the capital. Nearly 150,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in low-lying and coastal areas. More than 60 international and domestic flights have been cancelled over the past two days. Trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange and Philippine Dealing System, used for foreign exchange trading, were suspended after government offices were ordered shut. Typhoon Rammasun made landfall late on Tuesday over Rapu-Rapu island in the eastern province of Albay. Rammasun is the storm which has come the closest to Manila in about four years and storm surges were also likely in Manila Bay. The province of Leyte which was devastated by super typhoon Haiyan in November has not been spared--several areas have been flooded and Haiyan survivors living in tents have been evacuated to safety. Rhea Catada, who works for Oxfam in Tacloban, which suffered the brunt of Haiyan, said thousands of people in tents and coastal villages had been evacuated to higher ground. They are scared because their experiences during Haiyan last year are still fresh, she said. Now they are evacuating voluntarily and leaving behind their belongings. Tropical Storm Risk, which monitors cyclones, labelled Rammasun a category-two storm on a scale of one to five as it headed west into the South China Sea. Super typhoon Haiyan was category five.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 04:39:48 +0000
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