Typhoon Nesat
September 27, 2011
With winds of up to 87 mph 140 (kph) and gusts of up to 106 mph (170 kph), the storm is due to cross the northern region of Luzon throughout Tuesday. On Monday the Typhoon's strong winds brought down electricity pylons, uprooted trees and destroyed roofs, including the tin roof of an evacuation centre housing about 500 people in Manila. School classes, government offices and trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange have been suspended in the affected areas.
According to the Office of Civil Defence, a baby boy drowned in a swollen river in the eastern province of Catanduanes, while a mother and her child were crushed to death by a toppled tree in the Manila suburb of Caloocan. Four fishermen are also missing.
Debris, litters and power cut
Most streets in central Manila, including the tourist districts of Ermita and Malate, were flooded waist-deep after Manila Bay overflowed. Fallen trees and torn billboards, road signs and debris littered streets in other areas of the capital.
Power was cut in many parts of Luzon, including in Manila, where hospitals and emergency services used generators. Traffic was light as most people stayed indoors.
About 112,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in five towns in central Albay province. By late Monday, more than 50,000 had moved to government-run evacuation centres and relatives' homes.
The geography of the Philippines archipelago makes it a welcome path for about 20 storms and typhoons forming in the Pacific each year.
Author: Marina Joarder (dpa, APE)
Editor: Grahame Lucas