Tropical Storm Sinlaku drenches Manila by Steph Ball
Tropical storm Sinlaku edged slowly towards Luzon in the northern Philippines on Monday night, drenching the Metro Manila area.
The storm first developed in the Philippine Sea on Sunday and intensified into a tropical storm late on Monday. While still some way east of the Philippines, Sinlaku moved close enough for its effects to be felt across Luzon. Heavy downpours quickly submerged streets overnight, while residents in Camarin, Caloocan City, said that floodwaters quickly rose to shoulder-height engulfing their homes.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) have issued Signal 2 Public Warnings for the northern province of Cagayan, Babuyan and the Batanes group of islands.
Tropical Storm Sinlaku is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon over Central and Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Western Mindanao.
Sinlaku is currently lying some 600 miles (approx 960 km) south-southwest of Okinawa, Japan. As it moves away north from the Philippines today it is forecast to strengthen quickly to a typhoon. Winds could increase to 127mph (over 200 km/h) by the time it approaches Naha on Friday.
