Typhoons strike, 10 killed

Ten were reported killed as twin typhoons Aere and Chaba whipped heavy rains that caused landslides, flash floods, and damage in Metro Manila and nearby southern and central Luzon yesterday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said yesterday.

Three perople were reported missing after the downpour that began late Tuesday. Franklin Castro and Joey Patugulan, residents of Bago Bantay in suburban Quezon City, fell into a creek early yesterday.

They were not seen again, said the NDCC. Jeremy Laurio, 4, was swept away while swimming in a creek in Silangan village in San Mateo, suburban Rizal.

He has yet to be accounted for, the NDCC said. Other reports said that less than a dozen people were confirmed dead, but their bodies were not yet found. Due to heavy floods, about 50 families were trapped in their homes in Bagong Silangan village in suburban Quezon City, the NDCC quoted Francis Roja, one of the residents, as saying.

Their homes were knee deep in water, the NDCC said, adding that an undetermined number of houses were destroyed by landslides in all affected areas.

In all, 1,360 families or roughly 6,800 individuals who were in low lying areas and near creeks were taken to 12 evacuation centres in Quezon City, the hardest hit area in Metro Manila.

Other areas hit by the calamity were Manila, eastern suburban Marikina City, Mandaluyong City, northern suburban Malabon City and Valenzuela City. Areas hit east of Manila were Cainta and San Mateo both in Rizal.

Many major thoroughfares in affected areas were impassable till late afternoon.

President Gloria Arroyo cancelled all meetings. Portions of the presidential palace which is located beside the Pasig River, were also flooded. Classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Metro Manila were suspended.

A Philippine Airlines and China Airlines flight bound for Taipei were cancelled, said Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Assistant general manager for operations Ding Lina. At least 10 international planes were stranded at Pasay City's Ninoy Aquino International Airport.