1 dead, more than 16000 stranded as storm hits Philippines

1 woman died and more than 16,000 were stranded in the Philippines where a tropical storm forced authorities to suspend sea and air travel, disaster relief and police officials said Thursday. 6 people were missing, including two children who went swimming despite heavy rains from Tropical Storm Son-Tinh, which strengthened after making landfall in the central province of Masbate, dpa reported. The weather bureau said Son-Tinh was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour (kph). An 88-year-old woman died from hypothermia in the central province of Marinduque, the Office of Civil Defence said. Three fishermen whose boat capsized off the eastern city of Tacloban were later found to have been able to return home, police said. Son-Tinh battered more than 30 provinces in the eastern, central and southern Philippines, triggering floods and landslides in some areas. Power outages were reported in the provinces of Biliran, Leyte and Eastern Samar. The coast guard suspended ferry trips in the central islands, leaving 16,473 passengers stranded, the Office of Civil Defence said. At least 26 domestic flights were also cancelled, according to airport officials. The weather bureau said Son-Tinh was moving west-northwest at 20 kph and was expected to exit the Philippines on Friday