Typhoon Xangsane pounds Philippine capital

[uppityperson]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAN15043.htm

Typhoon Xangsane lashed the Philippine capital on Thursday, grounding flights, halting vessels and closing schools and offices after triggering flash floods and blackouts across the centre of the country.

The fiercest storm to strike the Philippines this year crashed into its central islands on Wednesday, stranding over 4,000 ferry passengers and sweeping away houses in raging waters up to five-foot deep in places.Six provinces in the Bicol region, famed for its coconut plantations, were left without electricity as high winds toppled power lines.

Rescue efforts were hampered by debris and trees blocking roads as Xangsane, with gusts of up to 160 km (99 miles) per hour, churned northwest towards Manila. "It's like waking up from a nightmare," office of civil defense chief for the Bicol region, Arnel Capili, told a radio station. "The first thing is to clear the national highway leading to Manila."...

more@ link, including warning not to go out into eye thinking it's over, many stranded, is 13th typhoon to hit Philipines this yr

[uppityperson]

1. color infrared loop here, big thing

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/mtsat/wpac/loop-avn.html

[donsu]

2. 13th this yr.! and I thought 5 last summer was too much

wishing them well

[FILAM23]

3. 13 typhoons hitting one part or another of the Philippines is not unusual

But this one was the worst in many years.
Of personal concern my wife and I just completed building
our retirement home in the Bicol region, so we are awaiting word
if it survived, but that is secondary to the safety of family
and friends who live there