UAE expresses solidarity with Philippines, conveys condolences over victims of typhoon

The United Arab Emirates has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Republic of the Philippines over the victims of Typhoon Co-may, which struck Luzon Island accompanied by heavy rainfall.

The typhoon resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, as well as significant damage to property.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) extended its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of the Philippines over this tragedy, along with its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.

A tropical storm was blowing across the Philippines' mountainous north, worsening more than a week of bad weather that has caused at least 25 deaths and prompted evacuations in villages hit by flooding and landslides.

Residents wade along a flooded road as intense rains continue due to the southwest monsoon at Malabon city. AP

The storm was Typhoon Co-may when it blew Thursday night into the town of Agno in Pangasinan province with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 165kph (102 mph).

It was weakening as it advanced northeastward and had sustained winds of 85 kph (53 mph) Friday afternoon.

Co-may was intensifying seasonal monsoon rains that had swamped a large swath of the country for more than a week.

Disaster-response officials have received reports of at least 25 deaths since last weekend, mostly due to flash floods, toppled trees, landslides and electrocution. Eight other people were reported missing, they said.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries directly caused by Co-may, locally called Emong, the fifth weather disturbance to hit the Philippines since the rainy season started in last month.

More than a dozen more tropical storms were expected to batter the Southeast Asian country the rest of the year, forecasters said.

WAM / AP