MANILA, Philippines - At least 10 people were killed and one remained missing as floods triggered by days of heavy rains covered much of the northern Philippines, officials said.

The tropical storm that dumped torrential rains over wide areas of the northern Philippines was reported gaining strength as it moved toward southern Japan.

Rains, however, were expected to continue in the Philippines until Sunday, the Office of Civil Defense said.

It said floodwaters had receded in most of metropolitan Manila and in the several provinces.

The number of people evacuated had fallen considerably. At the height of the rains and floods, about 112,000 people were forced to flee their homes to escape rising floodwaters.

Six people drowned, while three others were killed by collapsing structures and another person died of electrocution, the civil defense office said.

The floods came at the start of the rainy season in the Philippines. As many as 20 typhoons and tropical storms pass through the country annually.