Typhoon expected to hit Philippines

MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- An Army battalion was mobilized as another typhoon headed toward the Philippines, military officials said Sunday.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the Army Contingent for Emergency was commissioned Saturday to respond to Typhoon Lupit, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ramil.

The storm remained stationary hundreds of miles away. Meteorologists said a high-pressure zone over Hong Kong had slowed it.

Prisco Nilo, an administrator in Pagasa, said the storm was expected to hit Northern Luzon or Cagayan Province late Wednesday or early Thursday.

The Philippines was recently battered by two typhoons in a week. The second, Pepeng, killed 375 people and caused extensive damage to public and private property.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked the people of the Philippines to pray Ramil would spare the country, a spokesman said.