Thousands flee as Philippine storm hits main island

MANILA, May 26 (AFP): A severe storm battered the Philippines' most populous island on Sunday, dumping heavy rain and causing flooding that forced more than 8,000 people to flee their homes.

After making landfall on the central island of Samar late Friday, the first storm to hit the Philippines this year strengthened as it swept northwest to the main island of Luzon where it hovered near the capital Manila.

Severe tropical storm Ewiniar, which has been given the local name Aghon, dumped more than 200 millimetres (eight inches) of rain over parts of Quezon province in the 24 hours to 8:00 am (0000 GMT) on Sunday, the state weather forecaster said.