Still, Typhoon Rammasun's 150-kilometre wind and blinding 185-kp/h gusts, brought down trees, electric posts and ripped off roofs across the capital of 12 million people where government offices and schools were closed. More than 370,000 people moved from high-risk villages to emergency shelters in six provinces.
It was the strongest storm to make landfall in the Philippines this year. The second-highest alert in a four-scale warning system is still in effect for 10 areas including metro Manila. Government offices and schools in the capital and all areas under at least a Signal 2 - the third-highest alert - were closed, except for agencies involved in vital services and disaster response. There was no trading and settlement in the currency and bond markets and the Philippine Stock Exchange was shut.
The storm is now moving away from the Philippines at 25 kp/h towards Vietnam.
In a shantytown at the edge of Manila Bay, hundreds fled when strong wind tore tin roofs off their shanties. Most were drenched by the rain before they reached an evacuation centre with the help of firemen and rescue personnel, according to The Associated Press.
Bloomberg News reported that Manila Electric Co said power was cut to almost 90% of its customers in the capital and nearby provinces, where about a fourth of the nation's 107 million people live. Strong winds toppled power poles and brought down transmission lines, the company said on its Facebook page, without giving an estimate on when supply may be restored. Eleven provinces are still without electricity, the disaster agency's Pama said.