AP News, August 16th, 2007
A strong typhoon blowing off the mountainous north of the Philippines forced authorities to close schools in the capital for the second straight day Thursday and disaster-response teams braced for possible floods and landslides.
Typhoon Sepat _ the Malaysian word for a fresh water fish _ was tracked roaring over the Pacific Ocean about 310 miles east of northern Luzon island with sustained winds of 115 mph and gusts of up to 137 miles, the strongest howler to threaten the country this year, forecasters said.
Monsoon rains induced by Sepat flooded many parts of Manila Wednesday, causing monstrous traffic jams and forcing authorities to suspend classes and government work. Schools remained closed Thursday due to fear of more rains.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage from the fifth weather disturbance to hit the country this year.
Blowing northwestward at 9 mph, Sepat was expected to pass near the northernmost province of Batanes on Saturday before blowing toward southern Taiwan and mainland China, government forecaster Lucrecio About said.
Taiwan issued a warning for ships traveling through its southern waters on Thursday as the typhoon approached the island.
Sepat could still pick up energy as it hovers over the ocean and turn into a super typhoon with sustained winds of 134 mph, About said.
"It's our strongest typhoon so far this year," About said. "It can wash out everything not made of cement or steel with that wind."
Typhoon alerts were issued in the northern provinces of Catanduanes, Cagayan and Isabela, where fishermen were warned not to venture out to sea aboard small seacraft.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's convoy was caught in the "nightmarish" traffic jam in the Makati financial district, causing her to be late for an hour for a Thursday morning event, her office said in a statement.
Hollywood film director Quentin Tarantino, who was in Manila to receive a film award, was forced to abandon his limousine, which got stuck in Manila traffic for about 2-1/2 hours. He hopped into a bicycle taxi or "pedicab" as he scrambled to get to the Malacanang presidential palace to receive the award.
Tarantino is well-known for his films "Pulp Fiction" and "Kill Bill."
More than 220 people were evacuated Wednesday from their flooded homes, mostly in the capital's flood-prone suburban cities of Marikina, Malabon and San Juan, the National Disaster Coordination Council.
Back-to-back storms set off landslides and inundated many agricultural regions of Luzon last week, killing at least eight people, according to the government's Office of Civil Defense.
If Sepat stays at its current course, the fringe of the storm could affect Taiwan early Friday and possibly make landfall over southeastern Taiwan at night.
