Dhaka, Oct. 19 -- Thousands of residents of the Philippines left their homes along the Pacific coast Saturday as weather experts warned of coastal flooding ahead of Tropical Storm Fengshen's landfall.

The storm was forecast to hit Catanduanes, an impoverished island of 270,000 people, late Saturday with gusts of up to 90 kilometres (56 miles) an hour, the government weather service said.

A second landfall is expected on the main island of Luzon on Sunday morning.

Fengshen will bring heavy rainfall, along with a "minimal to moderate risk" of coastal flooding from 1-2 metre (3-6 foot) waves being pushed ashore by the disturbance, the government weather service said.

Nearly 17,000 residents of the eastern province of Albay, along with mo...