Storms no help for dry spell

MANILA (AFP) - Two days of intense rain which have flooded part of the capital have not eased a major drought and now there are fears of water and power shortages, officials said Wednesday.

Chief government weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said that despite torrential rain from tropical storms Chedeng (international name: Pabuk) and Dodong (international name: Wutip), it was still not enough to raise water levels in much of northern Luzon island.

"Let's wait until Friday. That's the only time we can say the dry spell is over," he said.

The storms left many parts of Manila flooded, with dozens of streets turned into rivers.