Manila whipped as storm weakens over Philippines

MANILA, Sep 28 (Reuters) Typhoon Xangsane weakened to a tropical storm over the Philippines today but fierce winds and driving rains killed at least eight people, displaced nearly 5,500 and devastated parts of the central islands and Manila.

Xangsane, which crashed into the centre of the country yesterday with winds of up to 130 kph and gusts of 160 kph, is expected to strengthen back to a typhoon when it reaches the South China Sea tomorrow morning.

The storm roared through the capital city, emptying the sprawling streets as most of Manila's 12 million residents took shelter from uprooted trees, overturned trucks and cars and other flying debris.

''It sounded like a train passed on the roof,'' said one occupant of a fourth-floor apartment. ''Then the roof in one of our rooms was gone. I can now see the sky.'' The storm is headed westward and is expected to reach the Vietnam coastline early on Sunday.

''It will likely regenerate to a typhoon when it reaches the South China Sea,'' weather specialist Renato Molina told Reuters.

But the weather bureau said it had spotted a new depression thousands of miles to the east of the Philippines which may develop into a storm and enter the country's area of responsibility by Saturday.

Violent winds and seas stranded around 3,500 ferry passengers and killed at least eight people. A further five were feared dead after heavy rains triggered a mudslide south of Manila.

Rescue efforts have been hampered by power failure, blocked roads and cut communication lines, forcing dozens of people in the central Philippines to take refuge on roofs.

Six provinces in the central Bicol region, famed for its coconut plantations, were left without electricity as high winds toppled power lines.

''Our people are doing their best to restore power. Hopefully, we will restore electricity by early evening,'' said Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla. He said the outage was partly due to voluntary shutdown of plants to avoid storm damage.

TOO DANGEROUS Xangsane brought Manila to a near standstill with all flights and sea travel in and out of the city cancelled. The international airport reopened at around 3 pm (0700 gmt) after the runways were cleared of debris.

Government offices were shuttered and local trading in the peso and shares was cancelled. Schools may reopen tomorrow.

Power was interrupted in wide areas of the main island of Luzon, including Manila, forcing the suspension of train services. Taxi drivers were reluctant to take to the road.

''It's too dangerous,'' said one cab driver, Armando Legaspi.

''Trees were falling left and right. So many things were flying out there. Visibility was also poor and I was so afraid the wind could flip my car.'' Agriculture officials said an initial estimate showed 1.19 million dollars worth of crops, particularly fruit trees, had been destroyed.

Xangsane was the 13th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, disaster officials said.

Tropical storms regularly hit the archipelago of about 7,000 islands. In the worst disaster in recent years, more than 5,000 people died in the central province of Leyte in 1991 in floods triggered by a typhoon.

Reuters SP GC1524