Death toll from Typhoon Trami climbs to 125 as Philippines braces for new storm

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA(AA) – With 25 fresh casualties, the death toll from tropical storm Trami climbed to 125 as the country is bracing for a new typhoon, authorities and local media reported on Tuesday.

Some 28 people are still missing in the flood-hit areas, state-run Philippine News Agency reported citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The country is bracing for heavy rainfall from the new storm, Kong-rey, which developed into a typhoon on Tuesday as rescuers continued to find the missing people and rehabilitate the damaged roads, bridges, and houses ravaged by Trami.

Weather authorities warned of heavy rainfall that will be dumped by Kong-rey, while flooding and rain-induced landslides are "likely", especially in the northern Philippines.

On Tuesday, slow-moving Kong-rey was spotted 565 kilometers (351 miles) northeast of Catanduanes province in the Bicol region, southeast of Manila. It was packing 130 km per hour winds and gusts of up to 160 km per hour.

Bicol, the hardest hit region, is already struggling to recover from devastation caused by Trami last week, as large swaths are still under floodwaters and mud.

Kong-rey is the 12th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, and is likely to exit the country on Thursday night or early Friday.

The country’s national weather bureau fears that the new storm could reach the "super typhoon" category.