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Typhoon barrels toward northern Philippines

US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) arrives at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang, outside Kuala Lumpur on October 10, 2013. Kerry arrived for the 4th Global Entrepreneurship Summit and to hold talks with the Malaysian leadership on bilateral and international issues. AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN (Photo credit should read MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images).

MANILA, Philippines – A tropical storm barrelling toward the northern Philippines has intensified into a typhoon with destructive winds and flooding rains threatening farmlands and populated areas, including the capital Manila.

Typhoon Nari forced U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to call off Friday’s trip to the Philippines.

Authorities placed 14 provinces and metropolitan Manila under storm alert, closed schools and put emergency services on notice.

The typhoon is forecast to slam ashore in northeastern Aurora province later Friday or early Saturday with winds of 120 kilometres (74 miles) per hour and stronger gusts.

This is the rainy season and about two typhoons lash the Philippines every month.

About 30 people died last month in flash floods triggered by monsoon rains. Another 13 died this past week alone.

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