Hanoi (VNA) - Tropical cyclone Kong-rey intensified into a super typhoon on October 30, threatening to cause heavy rains and severe winds in many regions in the northern Philippines, according to the country’s state weather bureau.
The warning came as the Philippines' Department of National Defence reported an additional 20 deaths from the massive flooding and landslides triggered by tropical storm Trami, bringing the total death toll from last week's storm to 145.
While emergency workers are racing against time to find 37 missing people, restore damaged roads and bridges, and distribute food and clothes to thousands of displaced people, the government now focuses on the possible impact of super typhoon Kong-rey, which hit the country early this week. It has yet to report deaths related to Kong-rey.
On October 30, the bureau spotted Kong-rey 350 km east of Cagayan province in the northern Philippines, as it was packing winds of 185 km per hour and gusts of up to 230 km per hour.
Many regions ravaged by Trami, including the hard-hit Bicol region, are in Kong-rey's path.
Kong-rey also threatens Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines. Early this month, super typhoon Krathon slammed the islands, causing massive damage.
Kong-rey, the 12th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, is expected to exit the country on October 31 night or early November 1./.
