Tropical storms swept across the southern Philippines island of Mindanao, threatening floods and landslides, sending more than 10,000 people to evacuation centers.
Tropical Storm Jelawat made landfall on Monday (Dec. 18) morning with moderate intensity and sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour, the Philippine National Weather Service said.
No loss of people** or property has been reported, but 11,729 residents have been evacuated on the east and north coasts of Mindanao as a precautionary measure, rescue agencies said.
The storm is expected to sweep across the south and northwest on the same day, and the Meteorological Bureau has issued a heavy rain warning to the locality, especially in the inland mountainous areas. "Landslides caused by flooding and rainfall are likely to occur in areas that are very vulnerable to this type of disaster," the latest storm advisory said. ”
Weather forecaster Torres added that there is a "good chance" that the tropical storm will weaken into a tropical depression as it passes over land.
Separately, the Philippine Coast Guard said 89 ships and nearly 1,000 seafarers were affected in the expected path of the storm or in nearby waters, some requiring shelter from entering the port and others being stranded at the pier before the storm hit.
About 20 storms and typhoons occur each year in the Philippines and its surrounding waters, which not only claim hundreds of lives, but also keep many parts of the Philippines out of poverty.