PHILIPPINES: Clean up efforts start in the Philippines after Typhoon Xangsane lashed the capital, and virtually brought the city to a stand-still

Typhoon Xangsane weakened to a tropical storm over the Philippines on Thursday (September 28) but fierce winds and driving rains killed at least eight people, displaced nearly 5,500 and devastated parts of the central islands and Manila. Xangsane, which crashed into the centre of the country on Wednesday (September 27) with winds of up to 130 kph (81 mph) and gusts of 160 kph, is expected to strengthen back to a typhoon when it reaches the South China Sea on Friday (September 29) morning. The storm roared through the capital city emptying the sprawling streets as most of Manila's 12 million residents took shelter from uprooted trees, overturned vehicles and other flying debris. It is currently more than 100 km west of Manila and by Friday (September 29) afternoon is expected to be 510 km west-northwest of the capital. Xangsane is expected to reach the Vietnam coastline early on Sunday (October 1). Clean up efforts are well under way throughout the capital with council workers and volunteers removing debris and trees from roads. The Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) says it is also trying to restore power to large parts of the city, after the storm knocked over power lines in many neighbourhoods. "Every time we try to bring back power, the circuit breaker would always trip. It could mean that there were so many fallen trees that may have cut our lines or our electric posts were toppled. So that's the situation today," said MERALCO spokesman, Elpi Cuna. Meanwhile, the weather bureau said it had spotted a new depression thousands of miles to the east of the Philippines which may develop into a storm and enter the country's area of responsibility by the weekend. Violent winds and seas stranded around 3,500 ferry passengers and killed at least eight people. A further five were feared dead after heavy rains triggered a mudslide south of Manila. Rescue efforts have been hampered by power failure, blocked roads and cut communication lines, forcing dozens of people in the central Philippines to take refuge on roofs. Six provinces in the central Bicol region, famed for its coconut plantations, were left without electricity as high winds toppled power lines. Xangsane brought Manila to a near standstill with all flights and sea travel in and out of the city cancelled. The international airport reopened at around 3 pm (0700 gmt) after the runways were cleared of debris. Public offices were shuttered and local trading in the peso and shares was cancelled. Government offices and schools will remain closed until next week while a clean-up gets under way. Power was interrupted in wide areas of the main island of Luzon, including Manila, forcing the suspension of train services. Taxi drivers were reluctant to take to the road. Agriculture officials said an initial estimate showed 60 million pesos ($1.19 million) worth of crops, particularly fruit trees, had been destroyed. Xangsane was the 13th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, disaster officials said. Tropical storms regularly hit the archipelago of about 7,000 islands. In the worst disaster in recent years, more than 5,000 people died in the central province of Leyte in 1991 in floods triggered by a typhoon.

ITN Source | September 27, 2006

Tags:. .meanwhile. .famed. .disaster. .vietnam. .roofs