New storm approaches Philippines after typhoon kills 20

PAGASA confirmed that the low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has intensified into a tropical depression.

Heavy rains in the capital of Manila inundated roads, causing traffic chaos, but floodwaters had slowed by yesterday morning.

Pray for us. Despite the floods and hours-long commute Tuesday night, Catholics braved the rain at Wednesday dawn and filled the Santisimo Rosario Church at the University of Sto.

Damage to public infrastructure was placed at P743.43 million and to agriculture, P230.587 million.

Eleven were dead and five missing, according to Philippine Daily Inquirer.

In a resolution passed Tuesday by the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the provincial board declared the entire province under state of calamity, one day after the typhoon made its landfall in Batag Island, Laoang, Northern Samar.

Local officials said it may take weeks and even months before power lines can be restored in the badly affected municipalities in the Visayas, Bicol, Romblon, and Mindoro. “Many people will spend Christmas in evacuation centres without power and potable water” he said.

The national disaster management agency said roughly 733,000 people had been pre-emptively evacuated as the storm approached.

Typhoons in the Philippines number at least 20 each year.

The governor or Oriental Mindoro, Alfonso Umali Jr., told DZMM radio that strong winds were battering the province and iron roofing was flying about, endangering rescuers trying to reach flooded homes.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau said it was monitoring another storm brewing over the Pacific east of the main southern island of Mindanao.