Stricken Philippines face new floods as death toll hits 240

Rescuers battling to save victims of the Philippines floods which have claimed at least 240 lives were facing a new threat today from two storms brewing in the Pacific.

The homes of nearly 1.9million people in the capital Manila and surrounding areas were swamped when Tropical Storm Ketsana tore through the region over the weekend.

Nearly 380,000 people have sought shelter in schools, churches and other evacuation centres, and some queued desperately on streets for handouts of fresh water as services were hit.

President Gloria Arroyo said she was opening the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila to displaced people. Her officials have pleaded for international aid, warning they may not have sufficient resources to withstand the two new storms, which could hit the stricken northern Philippines from the end of this week.

Ketsana dumped more than a month's rain in 12 hours on the region at the weekend, causing the worst flooding to hit the country in more than 40 years.

Emergency teams have rescued more than 12,000 people but there are reports of many more deaths.