It’s hard to believe things could get any worse for the Philippines, with 277 dead and many villages still under water, six days after Tropical Storm Ketsana pummeled the capital of Manila and the northern part of the country.

But residents of the devastated area are bracing for a second, more powerful storm.

Philippine soldiers and civilian emergency teams were on alert as Typhoon Parma approached the main island of Luzon Thursday.

The category 4 storm, bearing winds of 175 kilometres an hour, could grow to a category 5 when it makes landfall, likely on Saturday.

Ketsana struck on Saturday, bringing the worst flooding to the Philippines in more than 40 years. Besides the hundreds confirmed dead, at least 38 are missing and 380,000, displaced. The storm also claimed dozens of lives when it hit Vietnam on Tuesday.

The Philippine government has estimated the damage so far at $97 million.

How You Can Help

Donate non-perishable food:
Our Lady of Assumption Church
2565 Bathurst St (north of Eglinton Avenue)

Donate cash:
CIBC
Account Name: AFCM (Archdiocese Filipino Catholic Mission)
Transit Number: 7012
Account Number: 56-24010

For more information: Philippine Independence Day Council