New storm headed for typhoon-hit Philippines

A new storm approaching the central Philippines is on track to become the second typhoon in 10 days to batter the archipelago.

A new storm approaching the central Philippines is on track to become the second typhoon in 10 days to batter the archipelago, forecasters said, as the country struggled to recover from typhoon-triggered rains and mudslides that left more than 1,000 people dead or missing.

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The tropical depression, locally named Seniang, was about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) east of Leyte island and was forecast to make landfall on Saturday, before moving toward the central city of Cebu, where Asian leaders are gathering for a three-day summit starting Monday, according to weather projections.

The Philippine weather bureau said on Thursday the storm was packing sustained winds of up to 55 kilometers (34 miles) per hour and moving west at 19 kph (12 mph).

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center said the system was forecast to intensify into a typhoon, with sustained winds of up to 150 kph (93 mph).

In 1991, a flash flood in Ormoc city on the western side of Leyte Island killed about 6,000 people. In February this year, more than 1,000 died when a mudslide swept the village of Guisaugon after torrential rains.

Official figures showed 570 people were killed and 746 are missing and feared dead.
More than 1 million people in 13 eastern provinces were affected, and about 20,000 have gone to evacuation centers. The government has launched a massive cleanup operation with the help of foreign assistance.