World Scene: Philippines

Storm on All Saints' Day

Filipinos should avoid visiting cemeteries during this weekend's All Saints' Day celebrations because a new storm threatening the country could trap them there, making rescue difficult, the country's national disaster administrator said yesterday.

Millions in the Philippines are struggling to recover from back-to-back storms that killed 929 in floods and landslides. Forecasters are predicting that a new storm, Typhoon Mirinae, could hit the main island of Luzon on Saturday - the day before the holiday - and again inundate the northern region, said Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who leads the National Disaster Coordinating Council. "Let us avoid visiting our relatives at the cemeteries, and if we really need to make a visit, we can do it earlier - before Saturday," Teodoro said.