Hundreds stranded by typhoon

2006-11-29 10:36

Manila - Hundreds of people were stranded as a typhoon battered the eastern Philippines on Wednesday, forcing authorities to suspend school classes and sea travel in the affected areas.

At least 300 passengers were stuck in seaports in the eastern provinces of Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur and Albay due to heavy rains and strong winds brought about by typhoon Durian.

Education secretary Jesli Lapus has also ordered the suspension of school classes in all levels in the affected areas to prevent any untoward incident.

The Philippine weather bureau said Durian was packing maximum sustained winds of 150km per hour and gusts of up to 185km per hour.

The typhoon was located 400km southeast of Catanduanes and might hit metropolitan Manila late on Thursday. It is moving west-northwest at 26km per hour.

"Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas are alerted against flash floods and landslides," the weather bureau said in a bulletin.

"Those living in coastal areas are advised to seek higher grounds due to possible storm surge," it added.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered local government officials to be alert and to mobilize local crisis management teams to "ensure zero casualty".

Since late September, more than 250 people have been killed in the Philippines due to three powerful typhoons that hit the country's eastern, central and northern provinces.

Sapa-dpa

- SAPA