Over 2,000 families evacuated in Visayas due to storm

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - At least 2,000 families have been evacuated in six provinces in central Philippines as tropical storm Mekkhala, locally known as Amang, battered the country, the state disaster management agency said today.

The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said earlier that a 27-year old volunteer worker died after being hit by a soundbox due to a collapsed scaffolding caused by heavy winds brought by the storm in Tacloban yesterday shortly after Pope Francis presided over a mass.

At least 26 domestic flights were also canceled due to bad weather. In addition, 11,600 passengers were stranded in eight regions due to rough sea condition.

Power supply was also cut in at least six provinces in the Visayas region.

The tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gusts of up to 100 kph.

Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas of central provinces were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.