Typhoon "Yoyong" (international codename: Nanmadol) has prompted the Philippine Presidential Palace to suspend classes at all levels and work in all governmentoffices on Friday.

"On instructions of the President, classes at all levels and work in government offices are suspended tomorrow in Metro Manila," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye announced Thursday night.

The order was made by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who added that the suspension of classes is nationwide.

Arroyo visited the outskirts of Real in the northern Philippineprovince of Quezon where she distributed relief goods to shell-shocked survivors. She left immediately as winds intensified and driving rain began to fall.

A Philippine Daily Inquirer online news report said storm "Winnie" has left more than 900 people dead or missing due to landslides and floods in the northern Philippines this week, quoting rescuers.

However, the Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) told Xinhua by phone that their confirmed deathtoll is 407,while 142 people were missing and 33 injured.

The government suspended ferry services and grounded propeller-driven aircraft across Luzon, stranding several thousand passengers as Yoyong pummelled the northern Bicol region in the morning with peak winds of up to 220 km an hour.

In Metro Manila, the operation of part of the Metro Railway Transit and the Light Rail Transit were suspended late Thursday due to erratic power.

The Air Force and Navy said air and sea rescue operations for the victims of the storm that hit Real and nearby areas on Monday were also suspended due to high winds and low cloud cover.

Source: Xinhua