Typhoon Khanun gains strength as it approaches northern Philippines

Manila, July 31 (EFE).- The Philippines on Monday was bracing itself for heavy rains and possible flooding and landslides due to typhoon Khanun, which is gaining strength as it moves towards the northern waters of the archipelago, days after typhoon Doksuri left at least 25 people dead in the country.

The center of Khanun is located 1,070 kilometers east of the island of Luzon and it is packing sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour), with gusts of up to 185 kph, the Philippine meteorological agency, Pagasa, said.

However, due to its northward trajectory, the typhoon is not expected to make landfall on the archipelago.

The agency said that wind signals were unlikely to be hoisted on account of the typhoon but warned that flooding and landslides caused by rain were expected west of the island of Luzon, especially in areas that have already received heavy rainfall in the last few days.

Much of the archipelago is still recovering from the impact of Typhoon Doksuri, which has so far left 25 people dead, 20 missing and 52 injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The typhoon, which hit the north of the island of Luzon last week, has affected almost 2.4 million people and led to the displacement of 312,000 people.

After its passage through the Philippines, Doksuri moved to southern China, where it has affected 700,000 people. EFE

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