2nd tropical storm forming off RP: weather body

Agence France-Presse | 09/30/2009 12:00 AM

GENEVA - A second tropical cyclone is forming and may reach the Philippines, already reeling from a storm that killed at least 246 people over the weekend, the World Meteorological Organization said Tuesday.

"A second cyclone is threatening the eastern Philippines but it's difficult to predict damage it might cause," WMO official Geoffrey Love said.

"This storm could reach the east of the archipelago in the next two or three days and its intensity could increase during that time."

Reports of the new storm came as recovery efforts were underway following Saturday's devastating floods in the capital, Manila, and surrounding areas where tropical storm Ketsana unleashed the heaviest rain in more than 40 years.

Floods had seriously damaged infrastructure making it harder to help those worst hit by the disaster, according to the United Nations, which is planning to launch an appeal for victims.

"Almost 80 percent of health centres in Manila have been destroyed and in the east of the city the ground is covered by 30 centimetres (12 inches) of mud," said Elizabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

"The priority is to distribute food and medicines for the homeless and others crowded into public buildings and churches."

She said that the United Nations was also concerned by the situation in Vietnam where Ketsana has left 22 dead.

ABS-CBN News Online Beta