Philippine Typhoon Leaves Chaos in its Wake

A typhoon killed at least 10 people as it churned across the Philippines and shut down the capital, cutting power and prompting the evacuation of almost more than 370,000 people, rescue officials said on Wednesday.

The eye of Typhoon Rammasun, the strongest storm to hit the country this year, passed to the south of Manila on Wednesday after cutting a path across the main island of Luzon, toppling trees and power lines and causing electrocutions and widespread blackouts.

Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, said there was minimal damage in the capital but staff were trying to rescue people trapped by fallen debris in Batangas City to the south where two people were electrocuted.

"We have not received reports of major flooding in Metro Manila because the typhoon did not bring rain, but the winds were strong," he said.

The storm brought storm surges to Manila Bay and prompted disaster officials to evacuate slum-dwellers on the capital's outskirts. More surges were expected as the storm headed west.

More than half of Luzon was without power supply, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla told reporters, adding that he could not say when it would be back up.

Manila Electric Company, the country's biggest power utility exclusively supplying to the capital, said around 86 percent of its customers were without electricity.

(By Rosemarie Francisco)