A tropical storm, locally known as Feria, has landed on the eastern shores of the Philippines, the country's weather forecast bureau reported Tuesday.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said by 5:00 p.m. local time (0900 GMT) the storm has made landfall over Borongan town of Eastern Samar province and is moving towards West or Northwest at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour (kph).

The storm packed maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center, it said.

The weather authorities forecasted Feria to intensify into a typhoon as it arrives near the capital Metro Manila on Wednesday afternoon.

Lying on the west of the Pacific, the Philippine archipelago is hit by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms every year. Last year, a gigantic passenger ferry capsized at the height of typhoon Fengshen, killing about 800 people on board. It was recorded as one of the worst marine-time tragedies in modern history.

Source: Xinhua