MANILA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government cautioned the public on the possible effect of severe tropical storm Nock-ten as it entered the country on Friday.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it continues to strengthen coordination with its field offices and other disaster-mitigation agencies for the weather disturbance, which was given the local name Nina, when it entered the Philippines.
"This coming Christmas, we hope that the cooperative spirit of the Filipino people will once more assert itself and we help one another prepare our families and communities to overcome any devastation new weather disturbance will cause," said the department Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.
"We call on the public to coordinate with local disaster agencies in their communities regarding preparations for storm and to heed all warnings that will be issued. The main goal is to have zero casualties," she said.
Latest bulletin from the state weather forecasting agency said Nock-ten has maintained its strength and continues to move northwest direction and warned that it could intensify into a typhoon within the next 24 hours.
Packing maximum sustained winds of up to 105 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 130 kph, Nock-ten is expected to make landfall over the eastern province of Catanduanes on Sunday, or Christmas Day, in the afternoon or evening.
"Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon," the weather forecasting agency said.
