Typhoon Mirinae, the fourth cyclone to wallop the Philippines in a month, was barreling toward the capital of Manila, where some districts are still submerged by recent massive flooding, AP reported Friday. Authorities closed schools, grounded ferries and army troops mobilized a battalion with rubber boats ready for rescue operations in the capital and more than 25 other provinces. Trucks with food and other relief goods were dispatched to northern provinces in the typhoon"s path. Mirinae _ Korean for the Milky Way _ is forecast to make landfall before dawn Saturday in the eastern province of Quezon or neighboring Aurora, sparing the country"s rice bowl in the heart of the main Luzon Island before passing over Manila. The typhoon, packing winds of 93 miles (150 kilometers) per hour and gusts of up to 115 mph (185 kph), is expected to exit Luzon into the South China Sea later on Saturday. -- SPA
