Jolina Death Toll Feared to Rise as Kiko Heads to Cagayan

The death toll from floods due to Tropical Storm Jolina (Conson) was feared to rise with over a dozen listed as missing, authorities said, as powerful Typhoon Kiko (Chanthu) barreled towards the country.

Jolina hit the central province of Eastern Samar as a typhoon on Monday before weakening as it passed over the archipelago, forcing around 10,000 people to flee their homes, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. On top of the single confirmed death due to drowning, authorities said they were verifying 13 more fatalities.

At least seventeen people, mostly fishermen, were listed as missing. 

Floods were recorded in the provinces surrounding Metro Manila along with communities in central regions, according to the disaster agency.

The heavy rain and flooding came as Kiko -- packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 185 kilometres per hour (121 miles per hour) -- swept across the Philippine Sea towards the country's northeastern tip.

Kiko is expected to graze Cagayan province on Friday, dumping intense and "at times torrential" rain over the region, before continuing north towards Taiwan, the state weather agency said.

Jolina also damaged a total of 6,423 houses, 301 of which are totally destroyed. It destroyed P256 million in crops, based on initial estimates.

-- with Agence France-Presse