Typhoon Cimaron headed toward eastern Vietnam on Tuesday after leaving at least 15 dead in landslides and flooding in the northern Philippines, officials said.
Originally a super typhoon, Cimaron quickly lost strength after making landfall in the northeastern Philippine province of Isabela late Sunday and cutting across Luzon island Monday with winds of 75 mph and gusts of up to 130 mph.
Forecasters said that it may intensify over the South China Sea before making a second landfall along the eastern Vietnamese coast by Saturday morning, then dissipating over Laos on Sunday.
At least 15 people drowned or were killed by falling trees and another 15 were injured in the northern Philippines, local officials reported.
But the overall damage appeared to be minimal compared to last month’s Typhoon Xangsane, which left 230 people dead and missing as it ripped through Manila and neighboring provinces.
A senior agriculture official said Monday there was no significant damage to rice crops. The typhoon struck during the harvest season in the country’s major rice producing areas.
Weather forecast also looked good for All Saints’ Day on Wednesday, a public holiday when millions travel to cemeteries to remember their dead relatives. Many had left days in advance for outlying provinces.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, on a visit to China, called for prayers Sunday as she ordered schools and government work suspended. Domestic flights to the north were canceled.
Last month, Typhoon Xangsane left 230 people dead and missing as it ripped through Manila and neighboring provinces. About 20 typhoons and tropical storms lash the country each year.
