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Manila: 11 missing and 50 thousand people displaced by tropical storm “Falcon”
Approximately 10 thousand families evacuated slums on the outskirts of Manila. Massacre averted thanks to the new evacuation plan implemented after the storm Ketsana that caused 500 deaths in 2009. In the next few hours “Falcon” will reach the coasts of Taiwan.
Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) - 11 are missing and over 50 thousand have been displaced by tropical storm "Falcon" which hit last night in capital, Manila, as well as Quezon City, Taguig, Valenzuala and other areas of the island of Luzon. Torrential rains and winds exceeding 100 km/h have caused landslides in the suburbs of the capital and other areas of the country.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, about 10 thousand families have been affected, but there were no reported deaths thanks to the evacuation plan developed in the aftermath of the storm Ketsana in October 2009 that killed over 500 people and shut down half of Manila. For safety reasons, the authorities closed schools and government offices.
In these hours, Falcon is heading towards the island of Taiwan. According to the Department of Sciences at the University of Manila, the tropical storm is increasing in intensity and could become a typhoon.