Philippines braces itself for flash floods as Typhoon Koinu hovers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The typhoon is enhancing the south-west monsoon that causes rain and thunderstorms in the main Luzon island.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
MANILA – The Philippines is bracing itself for flash floods and landslides that may be triggered by heavy rain brought by tropical Cyclone Koinu, which reached typhoon category on Monday morning.
The centre of the typhoon was spotted 675km east of Aparri in northern Cagayan province, with maximum sustained winds of 120kmh and gusts of up to 150kmh, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). It is moving north-westward at 10kmh.
The typhoon is enhancing the south-west monsoon that causes rain and thunderstorms in the main Luzon island.
Koinu is forecast to exit the Philippine territory on Thursday, when it is expected to make landfall over the southern part of Taiwan, Pagasa said.
The Philippines suspended its currency and fixed income markets on Sept 1 after government offices including the central bank were shut due to monsoon rains from three cyclones.
About 20 cyclones pass through the Philippines each year, making it one of the world’s worst-hit countries. BLOOMBERG
