Typhoon Nesat: US Embassy in Manila immersed in water [Photo]

The Philippine Stock Exchange has been closed. With power supplies cut off, offices, schools and universities have all been affected. Floodwater reaches the US embassy gates on Roxas Boulevard on Tuesday as the high tide in Manila Bay combined with the rain and wind brought by Typhoon Pedring flooded a portion of Manila.

Winds have reached speeds of up to 170 kilometres an hour, whipping up massive tides and sweeping water onto the country’s thousands of islands. With roads deluged and flights cancelled, the authorities are warning against all non-essential travel.

Luzon, where more than half the population lives, has been hit hard. Over 100,000 people have been evacuated from one of its provinces.

Nesat is a category 3 typhoon. Two years ago, category 2 Typhoon Ketsana hit the Philippines, killing almost 750 people and causing more than 800 million euros worth of damage.