Manila braces for super storm Durian

Manila: State weather agency Pagasa has issued the highest level of alert as it said typhoon Durian - one of the strongest weather disturbances to hit the country this year - is expected to make landfall in Luzon by this morning.

"Residents in the affected areas are advised to seek higher ground due to possible storm surge," Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) said in its weather bulletin it issued on Wednesday.

Nap Cruz, Pagasa chief weather forecaster, said in an interview aired by radio station dzXL that Durian (Philippine codename: Reming) is expected to bring "very strong" winds of more than 190km/h -more powerful than typhoon Milenyo (international codename: Xangsane) which caused extensive damage in some areas in Metro Manila and the southern Tagalog region last October.

"Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas are alerted against flashfloods and landslides," he said, adding that the typhoon is moving in a north eastern direction at a speed of 24km/h.

He said typhoons arrive in the country during November to December are typically more powerful than those that visit the Philippines during the early part of the year.

In Catanduanes, a province that lies in the path of most typhoons that pass through the Philippines, typhoon signal No. 4, the highest in the four-step warning, had been declared by last afternoon.

In the Bicol region, which the typhoon lashed by last evening, ship sailings were suspended by the coast guard in some ports leaving hundreds of bus and ferry passengers stranded.

According to a report by INQ website, hundreds of passengers were stranded in the port of Tabaco in Albay province.

In Legazpi City, some 38 families living in coastal and low-lying areas have evacuated to safer ground.

In Metro Manila and the outlying provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has ordered schools shut. According to Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, President Gloria Arroyo has ordered all local officials to be on alert.

Bunye said the President had ordered disaster management officials to ensure minimal loss of lives and property from the typhoon.

According to Pagasa, the Philippines is visited by some 25 weather disturbance every year.

Disaster officials warned of possible flash floods, landslides and storm surges of up to 4.5 metres from Durian. More than 25 provinces and the Philippine capital, Manila, are under storm alerts. Manila or the region just south of it could be battered by the typhoon on Friday.

With inputs from Reuters and AP