MANILA — Philippine officials say a new storm has been spotted off the country's northeast and is expected to bolster monsoon rains, after recent flooding left at least 85 people dead and battered three million others. Manila's weather agency says the tropical depression was whirling over the Pacific Ocean with sustained winds of 55 km (34 miles) per hour. It was about 750 km from Aurora province. It says the storm is unlikely hit land, but is expected to bring “heavy to intense” monsoon rains over parts of northern Luzon island and central and southern provinces. More than 400,000 people fled their homes last week when floods swamped Manila and nearby provinces. Authorities rushed emergency provisions to more than two million people affected by widespread flooding. The flooding that submerged 80 percent of Manila early in the week has largely subsided, allowing people to return to their homes, but low-lying farming regions to the north remained under water. Civil defense chief Benito Ramos said the huge displaced population, including 441,000 people crammed in crowded evacuation camps, would need to be fed and taken care of for at least another seven days. The Philippines endures about 20 major storms or typhoons each rainy season. But this week's rains were the worst to hit Manila since Tropical Storm Ketsana killed 464 people in 2009. — Agencies
