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New storm threatens typhoon-ravaged Philippines

Manila - A new storm was threatening the Philippines, which was still reeling from a powerful typhoon that left more than 100 people dead or missing, the weather bureau warned on Monday.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered all agencies to hasten the relief efforts in typhoon-ravaged areas as the new weather disturbance closed in.

'President Arroyo's directive was to hasten the return to normalization because there is a new storm coming in the next 48 to 72 hours,' Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

Ermita added that Arroyo ordered the National Disaster Coordinating Council to come up with contingencies to ensure unabated relief operations despite the onset of the new storm.

The storm intensified over the past six hours, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour.

The weather bureau said the new disturbance might hit the northern Philippines later in the week.

The agency also warned against surges of strong winds over the typhoon-ravaged region of Bicol and nearby central provinces, as well as the southern region of Mindanao.

'The public and the disaster coordinating councils are advised to take appropriate actions,' it said in a bulletin.

Hundreds of thousands of people remained without electricity and communication services in Bicol and other areas battered by Typhoon Xangsane last week, including metro Manila.

Many streets in Manila were also still littered with toppled trees and debris.

The government, however, vowed to restore normalcy in Manila within the week. It also assured continued relief efforts in the hard-hit provinces.

At least 120 people were reported killed in the onslaught of Xangsane, the worst typhoon to hit metro Manila in a decade, according to disaster relief agencies and local officials.

Dozens more were reported missing due to landslides and flashfloods in the affected areas.

Typhoon Xangsane was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometres an hour when it hit the Philippines last Wednesday and Thursday.