MANILA: Moderate to heavy rains caused flooding and landslides in central Philippines as tropical storm Kai-tak made landfall on Saturday afternoon, and may hit more areas while moving westward, the weather bureau said on Saturday.
Locally known as Urduja, Kai-tak was barreling through the eastern region of Visayas, hitting islands and coastal towns such as Tacloban City where Supertyphoon Haiyan claimed 8,000 lives in 2013.
Heavy rains and large waves have stranded at least 11,000 people in various ports in the region, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. More than 10,000 people have fled to evacuation centres, local media reported.
Disaster officials were verifying reports that three people, including a two-year-old boy, had been killed during the storm.
Several provinces were placed under storm warning signals, where heavy rains may persist, the weather bureau said.
Kai-tak was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 kilometres per hour, with gustiness of up to 110 kph, after making landfall in the vicinity of San Policarpio in Eastern Samar.