Nine killed as Typhoon Melor causes chaos in central Philippines

(THESTRAITTIMES)NinepeoplewerekilledandhundredsspentthenighthuddledontheirroofsinthecentralPhilippinesasfloodsgeneratedbyapowerfultyphooninundatedvillages,disasterofficialssaidonWednesday(Dec16).

TyphoonMelorhadparalysedthecapitalManilabylateTuesday,withfloodwaterschest-deepinsomeareasdisruptingtrainservicesandcausingtrafficgridlockonmajorroads.Fivepeoplewerelistedasmissing.

SchoolswereshutinthegreaterManilaareaandnearbycities.

Thetyphoon,knownlocallyasNona,wasabout150kmnorth-westofMindoroisland,justtothesouthofManila,withwindsatitscentreof130kph.

MindoroGovernorAlfonsoUmalisaidinaradiointerviewthatfourpeoplewerekilledinwhathedescribedasoneofthestrongesttyphoonstohittheprovinceinyears.

AnotherfivepeoplewerekilledinNorthernSamar,whereMelorfirstmadelandfallfurthersouth.About90percentoftheprovincewasaffected,saiddisasterofficialJonathanBaldo.“ManypeoplewillspendChristmasinevacuationcentreswithoutpowerandpotablewater,”hesaid.

Thousandsoflightlyconstructedhouseshadbeenreducedto“matchsticks”,hesaid.“Itmaytakethreetofourmonthstorestorepowerintheprovinceafterpowerlinesandelectricitypostsweretoppledbystrongwinds,”headded.

FivefishermenweremissinginAlbaygulfontheheavilypopulatedmainislandofLuzon,officialstheresaid.

About120domesticflightsweregroundedandnearly200ferryserviceswerestopped.

Thestormforcedtheevacuationofabout800,000peopletoshelters.AnotherstormisexpectedtohitthesouthernPhilippineslaterthisweek,forecasterAccuweathersaid.

Anaverageof20typhoonspassthroughthePhilippineseachyear.In2013,typhoonHaiyankilledmorethan6,300peopleandleft1.4millionhomelessinthecentralPhilippines.