Manila appeals for international aid

       The Philippines government has appealed for international help after massive flooding set off by a tropical storm at the weekend left at least 140 dead.
       Defance Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said yesterday that help from foreign governments will ensure that the Philippine government can continue relief work following massive flooding set off by Tropical Storm Ketsana.
       Authorities are concerned there could be more bad weather on the way.
       Teodoro said government forecasters have monitored a low-pressure area over the Pacific that could develop into a storm and possibly hit the country later this week.
       He said at least 140 people were killed and 32 missing after Saturday's storm caused widespread flooding in Manila and other northern parts of the country.
       The Philippines could be hit with a new typhoon as it struggles to cope with the worst flooding in more than 40 years, the government's weather forecaster said yesterday.
       A tropical depression and a low-pressure area were both in the Pacific Ocean and heading in the Philippines' direction, said weather station forecaster Nathaniel Cruz.
       "There is the very big possibility [the tropical depression] could further intensify into a typhoon," he said in a television interview.
       "We will closely monitor this," he said.
       However, both potential storms were too far away to have any effect on the country for at least two days, he said.
       The depression was heading for the northern part of the main island of Luzon, where Saturday's disaster struck, but it was also possible that both weather disturbances would not reach the country, he added.
       Tropical storm Ketsana dumped one month's worth of rains on the capital and surrounding areas of Luzon in a few hours on Saturday, causing massive flooding that left at least 86 dead and displacing more than 430,000.
       Some of the floodwaters in Manila had still not receded after more than two days.
       Although Ketsana was already well clear of the Philippines, the government's weather bureau forecast scattered showers and thunderstorms for Luzon yesterday.