Second Typhoon in Two Weeks Kills Five, Routs Thousands in Philippines

A weakened Typhoon Skip roared into the South China Sea today after killing at least five people and forcing thousands from their homes but sparing Manila its full fury.

The government weather service said that Skip, the second typhoon to strike the Philippines in two weeks, swept across Mindoro Island early today and at mid-morning was reported about 150 miles southwest of Manila in the South China Sea.

Maximum winds weakened to about 93 m.p.h. as the storm swept across the central Visayas island chain, the weather service said.

The storm’s path kept it about 100 miles south of Manila, saving the capital from the high winds and flooding brought by Typhoon Ruby two weeks ago.

Reports of damage and casualties from Typhoon Skip were sketchy because of poor communications with the affected area.

The Red Cross reported that at least five people were killed Monday in Camarines Sur province. The toll included three confirmed dead in a landslide in Pasacao, about 210 miles southeast of Manila. The Red Cross said 23 people were reported buried in the landslide but that only three bodies had been recovered.

Late Monday, a radio station in the Camarines Sur city of Naga put the death toll in Pasacao at 10, including six children.

The Red Cross said at least two children died when a tornado triggered by Skip roared through another town in Camarines Sur.

The Philippines Social Services Department reported nearly 400,000 people “affected” by the typhoon, meaning that their homes or property were damaged or destroyed. It said most of them were on Leyte Island.