New typhoon may hit Philippines after Nari's death and destruction

Another typhoon is brewing in the Pacific Ocean and might threaten the Philippines, officials said yesterday as clean-up efforts continued in the north of the country after Typhoon Nari killed 13 people.

Nari flooded farmland and destroyed thousands of houses in provinces north of Manila before blowing away in the South China Sea.

In Bulacan province's San Miguel town, the sun shone on villages where floodwaters that reached up to roof level had receded, allowing residents to return from emergency shelters to clean up, wash muddied belongings and repair damaged houses.

Eduardo del Rosario, who heads the government's disaster response agency, said police officers, military personnel and local officials would remain on alert after forecasters spotted another typhoon, named Wipha, more than 1,300 kilometres east of the northern Philippines.

Government forecasters said the new typhoon, with maximum winds of 140 km/h and gusts of up to 170 km/h, would probably spare the country if it does not veer away from its current course.

However, civil defence spokesman Reynaldo Balido said authorities were not taking any chances. "We will remain on alert, and continue to take precautions," he said.