Emergency measures in the Philippines due to tropical storm

All ships have been ordered not to leave ports, some flights have been cancelled in the northern Philippines, and schools in the capital Manila remain closed today due to floods and landslides caused by a tropical storm, officials said, according to the Patria news agency.

Warnings have been issued in at least 14 areas on the main Philippine island of Luzon, as tropical storm "Linfa" moves slowly across the northern part of the archipelago.

The storm is accompanied by wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour. Experts warn that heavy rain could fall within a radius of 400 kilometres. A navigation ban has been imposed due to expected waves of up to four metres in height.

Military units have been placed on standby to evacuate people to temporary shelters if necessary. "Linfa" is currently located about 135 kilometres southwest of the city of Laoag, in the far north of Luzon Island. The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons each year.