Death Toll Rises as Typhoon Mirinae Moves West

Typhoon Mirinae hit Manila and southern Luzon island with a devastating impact that has left at least 12 dead and six people missing. The powerful typhoon weakened into a storm and is now reported to be moving west of Philippines towards the South China Sea.

Mirinae winds, which uprooted trees and caused failure of electricity, were measured to be about 130 kilometers per hour. According to the weather bureau, Mirinae hit 170 kilometers southwest of Manila at 1 pm local time and the winds weakened to 105 kilometers per hour earlier today. Ernesto Torres, National Disaster Coordinating Council spokesman, said,"The worst is over, but we cannot be complacent."

Torres reported that a man was missing in Muntinlupa City, after a shanty washed into a nearby creek. The military has stated, that a man drowned, leaving his 1 year old child missing, in the Pililia province. There are 7 deaths that have been reported in the Bicol region,according to the Civil Defense Director, Raffy Alejandro. Three people were killed in the flash floods in Laguna, reported the Provincial Police Commander, Manolito Labador.

Gwen Panf, a Red Cross spokeswoman said, that 700 families from Taytay in the Rizal province, who had been evacuated due to a previous storm, are being moved again, because Mirinae destroyed their makeshift shelters. Thousands have been left stranded on ports and bus stations, as reports of floods blocking provincial roads, come in. In eastern Manila, parts of Marikina and Taguig are under waist-deep water. Efren Aguilar, a staff member of the disaster coordinating council at Quezon province, where Mirinae struck earlier today said, "It was furious. There was heavy rain and strong wind for two hours. Things have calmed down now."

The storm signal has been cut down to one from three, by the weather bureau. Electricity will be restored to, most of the 1.6 million subscribers of the Manila Electric Co., during the day. Flights have also been resumed by the Philippine Airlines Inc. Torres said, "By tomorrow, it will be safe to go out," indicating that the rampage that Typhoon Mirinae has been on, is hopefully coming to an end.