Philippine authorities have ordered pre-emptive evacuation of residents in high-risk areas ahead of potentially intense rains from severe Tropical Storm Kong-Rey, which has intensified as it moved closer to the country’s north-eastern coast on Tuesday. Kong-Rey, locally called Leon, was nearing typhoon category, with sustained winds of 110 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 135 kilometres per hour, the weather bureau said. Storm signal warnings were in place in 21 provinces, including five provinces recently devastated by severe Tropical Storm Trami, which left 125 dead and more than 935,0…