Winter Cleans House Across the Country

Tropical storm Durian threatens northern Philippines

MANILA (AFP) - Weather forecasters have raised flood and landslide alerts as tropical storm Durian threatened the northern Philippines with winds of up to 105 kilometers (65 miles) an hour.

At 4:00pm (0800 GMT) the storm was about 730 kilometers (453 miles) east of the central island of Samar, forecasters said Tuesday.

It was expected to creep northwest to within 170 kilometers (105 miles) of the coast of the main island of Luzon within the next two days, they added.

The weather bureau raised the lowest of a four-stage alert over Catanduanes island off eastern Luzon, warning its population of about a quarter million people to stay alert "against possible flashfloods and landslides."

It said the northern section of the country would start to feel the effects of the storm by Friday.

Eight typhoons and tropical storms have hit the Philippines so far this year.

Earlier this month the northern Philippines was hit by typhoon Chebi, which left more than eight people dead.

In October typhoon Xangsane, the strongest in more than 10 years, slammed into Manila and Luzon leaving as many as 200 people dead or missing.