Manilla: Typhoon Tembin on Monday brought heavy rains to the northern Phillipines, triggering landslides and flashfloods just weeks after a series of deadly storms and monsoon rains, the government said.
The storm, which was upgraded from a tropical storm, was moving slowly northwards off the northern tip of the main Philippine island of Luzon while battering the mountainous region with powerful downpours.
The heavy rain caused landslides that damaged eight major highways, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in a statement. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Tembin, packing maximum winds of 130 kilometres (681 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 160 kph, was expected to remain off the northern tip of Luzon for more than a day, the council added.
Local communities were warned to monitor the levels of rivers and streams in their area and prepare for evacuations in case they begin to rise.
Storms and flooding from torrential rains have left at least 170 people dead this month.
An average of 20 tropical storms or typhoons hit the Philippines each year. (AFP)
