Typhoon Kaemi soaks Philippines

TYPHOON Kaemi dumped heavy rains on the Philippines, shutting schools and the stock exchange before barrelling toward Taiwan and China, where hundreds died in a storm earlier this month.In the Philippines capital Manila, trading was suspended on the stock exchange, government offices closed and classes were cancelled as torrential downpours left some areas under several inches of water. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Kaemi, packing maximum sustained winds of 139km/hh, was due to make landfall in southeast Taiwan tomorrow, according to the Hong Kong observatory. At 10pm (AEST) last night, Kaemi - meaning 'ant' in Korean - was centred about 200km east of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, moving toward the island at about 20km/h, the observatory said. The typhoon was then expected to head for mainland China, with southeastern Fujian province deploying some 3000 armed police as it braced for more devastation after Tropical Storm Bilis, which struck just 10 days ago. Taiwan was already starting to feel the effects of the massive storm, with shipping traffic suspended in the southeast and airlines cancelling flights to eastern destinations, authorities said. Hundreds of villagers were evacuated from a mountainous area in southeastern Taitung county as a precautionary measure amid fears of landslides triggered by heavy downpours, emergency personnel said. Fishermen sought shelter in protected harbours, as the weather bureau warned residents in low-lying areas to take precautions against torrential rains and heavy winds generated by Kaemi, which has a radius of 200km. Residents in mountainous regions were told to watch out for mudslides, while those on the coastlines were asked to avoid beaches. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19904140-23109,00.html