There were no immediate reports of casualties from the continuous rains that pounded Lucena, located about 135 kilometers (85 miles) southeast of the Philippine capital Manila, the office said.

More than 8,000 people were evacuated from riversides and low-lying areas which are vulnerable to rising waters.

Military and civil defense teams have been dispatched to help evacuate people with teams in rubber boats proceeding to the affected area, the office said.

Local officials said the water level was starting to subside, but that those who were in evacuation centers would stay for the time being, adding that there were plenty of supplies in the shelters for the evacuees.

Officials have been on alert for storm-related threats in the latter half of the year after heavy rains caused floods and landslides that left over 1,000 people dead or missing in the eastern Philippines in December 2004.

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