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Typhoon Vamco lashes Philippines’ main island, killing at least 11
- Flights and mass transit in the capital were suspended, while government work was halted and financial markets were shut
- The country is still reeling from Typhoon Molave, the world’s most powerful typhoon this year that killed 25 people
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Agence France-Pressein Manila
The third typhoon to hit the storm-battered Philippines in as many weeks caused major flooding in Manila on Thursday, trapping people on rooftops and claiming at least 11 lives across the country.
Typhoon Vamco packed winds of up to 155km/h as it swept across the country’s largest island of Luzon after making landfall overnight.
Authorities warned of landslides and potentially deadly storm surges along the coast. Heavy rain effectively shut down Manila, the sprawling capital of 12 million people, and surrounding areas, turning streets into rivers.
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Philippines faces third major typhoon in three weeks while still reeling from deadly storm Goni
Philippines faces third major typhoon in three weeks while still reeling from deadly storm Goni
“A lot of places are submerged. Many people are crying for help,” said Rouel Santos, 53, a retired disaster officer in Rizal province, next to the capital.
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Santos said the flooding caused by Vamco brought back memories of the devastating Typhoon Ketsana, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Ondoy, that hit in 2009 and claimed hundreds of lives.
An official from the country’s Office of Civil Defence said rainfall dumped by Vamco so far was “near the volume” during Ondoy, warning flooding could worsen as run-off from nearby mountains flowed into already swollen waterways.
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