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ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Filipino man hangs on a net to cross waters as he moves to safer grounds during heavy rainfall at Manila's bay, Philippines on Monday, Aug. 4, 2014. Philippine officials say Typhoon Halong has worsened monsoon rains, flooding northern villages, but is too far off at sea to hit the country as it blows toward southern Japan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines >> A strong typhoon that has worsened seasonal monsoon rains in the Philippines will linger offshore until Thursday, raising fears of more flooding.
Forecasters said, however, that Typhoon Halong was too far off at sea to hit the country directly.
The rains have flooded several farming villages in the north and caused traffic jams in the capital, Manila. A tugboat sank in rough seas over the weekend off Batangas province, south of Manila, and its three crewmen were rescued by the coast guard.
Government forecasters said Halong packed sustained winds of 102 miles per hour and gusts up to 124 mph. It was moving over the Pacific about 522 miles east of northern Cagayan province and was forecast to blow toward southern Japan this week.
Forecaster Gladys Saludes said Halong, the 10th of about 20 tropical storms and typhoons expected to batter the Philippines this year, will blow out of the country Thursday.
