New storm heading towards Philippines as it recovers from Trami's impact

The Philippines on Monday issued a new weather alert following the devastation caused by Severe Tropical Storm Trami, which claimed the lives of over 100 people in the past few days.

Nearly a million people remain in evacuation centres or are staying with relatives after losing their homes to the floodwaters brought Trami, which made landfall on October 22.

As the country grapples with the storm's aftermath, the national weather agency in the country warned that Tropical Storm Kong-rey, which is making its way to the country, is set to hit the region in the coming hours.

According to the weather agency, the upcoming storm will bring heavy rain and severe wind, potentially resulting in rough seas off the east coast, AFP reported.

Kong-rey will strengthen into a typhoon by Tuesday and pass close to small Philippine islands in the north as early as Wednesday, the weather service said in a bulletin.

The lowest of a five-stage storm alert is in place on the country's northeast coast.

Trami, by contrast, struck some of the country's most populous areas.

The government's disaster agency put the death toll from Trami at 116, with 39 missing.

Meanwhile, police in the hardest-hit Bicol region in central Philippines also recorded 38 deaths, mostly due to drowning, Al Jazeera reported.

"Considering the current movement, a further westward shift in forecast track is not ruled out," it said of the latest storm, which would bring it closer to the country than earlier forecast.

It expects Kong-rey to smash into Taiwan at typhoon strength early Friday.

About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the Southeast Asian country or its surrounding waters each year, damaging homes and infrastructure and killing dozens of people.