Typhoon Kills 9 in Philippines

Typhoon Betty whipped the Philippines with heavy rains and winds of up to 136 m.p.h., killing at least nine people and leaving thousands homeless before it moved into the South China Sea today.

Manila escaped serious damage or disruption, although schools and many businesses closed because electricity was interrupted in several areas. Betty, the strongest typhoon to hit the archipelago in three years, passed about 60 miles south of Manila and left land by mid-morning.