Thailand's Meteorological Department on Tuesday warned residents in 18 provinces of heavy rains and flash floods as tropical storm Ketsana is expected to reach the country's northeast region Wednesday.

It was the fourth warning on Ketsana since Sunday.

The department said the typhoon was now over the South China Sea and was centered about 220 km east of Danang, Vietnam or Lat 16.0 oN, Long 109.8 oE with sustained winds of 140 km per hour. The storm is moving west at a speed of 15 km per hour to make landfall over the coast of Vietnam Tuesday.

It said Ketsana is expected to move across Laos ahead to northeast province of Mukdahan by Wednesday.

The department warned that northeastern provinces of Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima, central province of Chanthaburi, eastern provinces of Trat and Ranong, southern province of Phang Nga would be hit by heavy rains.

On Tuesday morning, the Philippine government confirmed a total of 240 people were dead, nearly 40 people were still missing and 1. 87 million affected following devastating floods and landslides in Luzon caused by Ketsana.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2009)