Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Western Pacific: Tropical depression 36w (Thirty-six), located approximately 375 nm east-southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is tracking westward at 10 knots.

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 08p (Eight), located approximately 460 nm northwest of Cairns, Australia, is tracking northwestward at 04 knots.

NewsBytes:

Philippines - The death toll has risen. At least 22 people have died and a number are still missing after torrential rain triggered landslides and flash flooding in some regions in the Philippines, disaster officials and police said on Sunday (Dec 30). The deaths were mostly due to landslides and drowning in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas in the central Philippines. As of Sunday morning, the council said a total of 1,274 families or 4,906 persons were affected by a tropical depression that dumped rains since it entered the Philippine area of responsibility. The agency also said that 78 areas were flooded in the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions, while 59 areas experienced power outages in the southeast Asian country.

Syria - Thousands of families displaced by years of war in Syria are being displaced again. Two days of torrential rainfall in the country's northern region caused major flooding in refugee camps in Idlib and Aleppo. The affected occupants stared helplessly as their flimsy tents and makeshift shelters were washed away. Aid groups have appealed for international help.

DR Congo - Floods have affected the voting in the presidential elections held in DR Congo. Problems in the run-up to the Congolese elections have included torrential rain, broken voting machines, missing voter lists and complaints of harassment.