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MANILA, Philippines >> A new Pacific storm that is threatening the mountainous northern Philippines may strengthen further and set off floods and landslides.
Government forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Sunday that tropical storm Nesat could make landfall in the agricultural provinces of Isabela or Cagayan in two days. It has sustained winds of 59 mph and gusts of 75 mph. It could still strengthen into a typhoon before it hits land.
Aurelio says Nesat was last tracked 373 miles off eastern Catanduanes province.
The storm is unrelated to heavy rains that have flooded large swathes of southern Maguindanao and nearby provinces in recent days, displacing tens of thousands of villagers.
