'Maring' intensifies, almost motionless - PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm "Maring" (international name Trami) has intensified and remained almost stationary, the state weather bureau said Monday night.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm's center was estimated at 600 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes as of 10 p.m.

The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 100 kph. It was moving north at a very slow pace of 7 kph.

The cyclone was forecast to stay within the Philippine Area of Responsibility until Thurday.

PAGASA said the storm will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring moderate to heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms over Luzon, including Metro Manila.

The weather bureau said the estimated rainfall amount within the storm's 400 kilometer diamater was 10 to 25 millimeter per hour (heavy to intense).

The southwest monsoon-induced rains have flooded a large part of Luzon, particularly provinces in Calabarzon and are in Metro Manila.

The weather bureau said that moderate to heavy rains will continue to hit the capital region and its nearby provinces until after midnight.

At least three people have been confirmed killed and four more were reported missing since the torrential rains started on Sunday.

Nearly 100,000 persons have been affected and displaced by floods caused by the non-stop rains in the regions of Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cordillera Administrative Region and Metro Manila.

Majority of the affected people are residents of the coastal town of Rosario in Cavite province, where at least 50,000 people are suffering from flooded villages.