Unseasonably heavy rain lashes the Philippines by Frances Runnalls
A spell of unusually wet weather has been inundating southern and eastern parts of the Philippines over the past two weeks, causing widespread floods and triggering landslides. More than 30 people have now been killed by the heavy rains which have displaced over 300,000 locals.
The country’s southern islands receive significant rainfall through much of the year; however as a result of the south westerly monsoon the rainfall is particularly heavy between the months of July and October. The annual rainfall totals exceeds 1000mm (39 inches) across the whole country, but some regions can receive up to 5000mm (197 inches) over the year. Much of the rain comes from tropical cyclones (typhoons) generated in the South China Sea.
The wet weather that has been lashing the Philippines since the middle of February is the result of an area of low pressure which has been affecting the central Visayas Islands and the main southern island of Mindanao. Further showers are forecast to hit the islands over the coming days.
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