Heavy rains, resulting from a sudden tropical storm, lashed southern coastal cities of Philippines last night killing more than 250 people.

Officials said the flood entered thousands of homes in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and other cities when people were in deep sleep and most of them were washed away in the swirling river waters.

In some places, people in their sleep were washed away into sea by sudden walls of water. Civic officials said they have received numerous complaints of people missing and the death toll in the flood waters is likely to increase.

Heavy loss of life was reported from the Mindanao region which has not witnessed a cyclone so far in the past decade. (JUBS)