Across the World: Philippines

Shutdown before storm

Schools were closed and domestic ferry services in the capital Manila were suspended on Friday as Philippine authorities braced for a third strong typhoon in five weeks.

Mirinae, a category 2 typhoon with maximum center winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 185 kph, was expected to make landfall on Saturday, dumping rains on major rice-producing provinces north of the capital. The same areas were submerged in floodwaters just a few weeks ago when Typhoon Parma hovered for a week over the north.