Typhoon Smashes Philippines, Killing At Least 11

Residents wade through floodwaters brought about by typhoon Mirinae at Santa Cruz, Laguna province, south of Manila, Philippines, 31 Oct 2009A powerful typhoon smashed through the Philippines early Saturday, killing at least 11 people and bringing new floods to areas still recovering from two earlier storms.

Officials in the Philippines say typhoon Mirinae (locally known as "Santi") has weakened to a tropical storm and moved west.  The total number of dead and missing is still being determined.  

The typhoon made landfall in the eastern province of Quezon just early Friday and swept over the capital, Manila, and southern provinces on the main Luzon island, flooding entire villages.  

All flights to and from Manila were canceled Saturday.   The coast guard also halted all maritime traffic.

More than 100,000 people had been evacuated from coastal areas ahead of the storm.

Tens of thousands of people were stranded on Luzon ahead of the All Saints holiday in early November, when many Filipinos travel to their home provinces to pay their respects to dead relatives.

Military troops and relief supplies have been sent to the flooded areas. 

Storms Ketsana (September 26) and Parma (October 3) caused the worst flooding in the Philippines in four decades.  The resulting floods and mudslides have killed more than 900 people, and affected nearly nine million others.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.