Northern Philippines braces for heavy rains from Typhoon Koinu

Manila, Oct 2 (EFE).- The northern Philippines was preparing Monday for the arrival of heavy rains caused by Typhoon Koinu, due to the possibility of flash floods and landslides, the meteorological service said.

Koinu, which reached typhoon status Monday morning, is 655 kilometers northeast of the island of Luzon and, according to the trajectory predicted by the meteorological service, will begin to bring rains from noon on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday.

The rains are expected to be severe in mountainous areas of northern Luzon, where alerts are focused on possible floods and landslides, according to Monday’s forecast.

The country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council activated its emergency preparedness response protocols the day before in the regions that could be affected by the typhoon, although no population evacuations have been reported so far.

The typhoon, with sustained winds of 120 kmph and gusts of up to 150 kmph, will not make landfall in the Philippine archipelago and is heading towards the island of Taiwan, where it could hit the south Thursday.

The Philippines registers about 20 typhoons or tropical storms a year and suffered the destruction of Doksuri in July, which caused at least 25 deaths and a trail of destruction as it passed through the north of the archipelago. EFE

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