Thousands flee, one missing as storm hits Philippines

A man went missing and thousands of people in the Philippines were sheltering in evacuation centres on Monday as Tropical Storm Jelawat hit the large southern island of Mindanao, causing scattered flooding and power cuts.
The storm weakened as it raked across Mindanao after making landfall in the morning, but the state weather service said the threat of floods and landslides remained.
Police in Manay municipality, where Jelawat made landfall, reported one man missing at the swollen Casaoman River that bisects the coastal town of about 40,000 people.
“A local man ignored warnings and went to gather coconuts floating on the river. It is suspected he’s been swept away,” acting Manay police chief major Meliton Sango said.
Two areas of Manay reported knee-deep floodwaters as the river overflowed, the officer said.
The civil defence office in Manila reported two damaged houses in Cortes, another town on Mindanao’s east coast, along with power cuts in three other towns.
A total of 11,729 residents had been evacuated from Mindanao’s east and north coast ahead of landfall as a precaution.
They were advised by authorities to remain at emergency shelters for now.