Typhoon batters Philippines, on way to China

October 29, 2000
Web posted at: 2:25 PM HKT (0625 GMT)

MANILA, Philippines (Reuters) -- Typhoon Xangsane blew towards China on Sunday after battering the Philippines' main island of Luzon, killing 13 people, plunging towns and cities into darkness and forcing more than 20,000 to flee their homes.

At least 25 people, mostly fishermen caught at sea by the typhoon, were missing while 217 were injured, the civil defense office said.

Five motorboats capsized.

Xangsane triggered floods that submerged homes and damaged hundreds of houses in the capital, Manila, and nearby provinces, it said.

"The floods have reached up to the roof of our house and we can't find our mayor. We need help," a frantic housewife told a Manila radio station early Sunday.

The typhoon packed center winds of 110 kph (70 mph) as it approached Luzon, but its force weakened to 75 kph (45 mph) when it crossed land during the night before heading out for the South China Sea towards southern China, a weather bureau spokeswoman said.

Five of those killed were occupants of a garbage dump truck, which plunged into a ravine in the Manila suburb of San Mateo and buried them under piles of rubbish.

A pregnant mother and her daughter were crushed to death by a falling tree, and a man died after being hit by a tumbling wall. Most of the other fatalities drowned or were electrocuted, officials said.

The typhoon downed power lines, plunging many areas in Manila and outlying provinces into darkness for several hours until early on Sunday.

Twelve of the country's more than 70 provinces were severely affected by Xangsane, the weather bureau said.

High winds forced Philippine Airlines (PAL) and other local air carriers to cancel domestic flights to and from Manila and other affected areas on Saturday.

Three international flights were diverted to other airports, air transport officials said.

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said 26 percent of electricity distribution circuits had been cut off by the typhoon, about half located on Luzon, the country's most populous island.

Damage to agricultural crops and property was initially put at about 500 million pesos ($9.8 million).

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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