Philippine weatherman sacked

MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Philippines President Benigno Aquino said he fired the nation's weather forecaster for failing to adequately warn residents of a killer typhoon.

Typhoon Conson killed 111 people when it hit Manila on July 14 and Prisco Nilo failed to adequately warn residents, Manila's Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

"I trusted everybody involved, so when (Typhoon Conson) hit us I was surprised," Aquino said.

The Philippines are in a major Pacific typhoon belt that produces up to 20 major storms annually, killing hundreds of people.

Nilo said he was unable to do his job properly because of improper equipment. A new computer forecasting system has many problems, the report said.