Thousands of people sought shelter in emergency shelters in the Philippines on Monday, where tropical storm Jelawat began hitting the vast southern island of Mindanao, causing flooding and power outages.
The storm weakened after making landfall in the morning, but the Philippine Weather Service said the threat of flooding and landslides remained.
Police in Manay, where Jelawat made landfall, reported the disappearance of a man in the swollen Casaoman River, which flows through this coastal town of about 40,000 people.
This resident “ignored warnings and went to collect coconuts floating on the river. We believe he was washed away,” said Major Meliton Sango.
As a precautionary measure, a total of 11,729 residents were evacuated from the eastern and northern coasts of Mindanao before the storm's arrival. The authorities advised them to stay in emergency shelters for the time being.
Meteorological services forecast that Jelawat will move through the south of the country for the rest of the day and warn of heavy rain, especially in the mountainous regions in the interior.
“Under these conditions, flooding and landslides caused by rain are to be expected,” says the current weather forecast.
The Coast Guard reported widespread shipping disruptions and shipping restrictions were put in place to prevent accidents in rough seas.
More than 100 ships ran aground or sought shelter in ports and more than 5,000 passengers remained stranded in Manila port as ferry services to the central and southern Philippines were suspended.
Every year around twenty storms and typhoons hit the land and surrounding waters, causing hundreds of victims and extensive damage.
According to weather services, Jelawat is the eleventh storm of the year.