Northern Philippines: Homeowners in northern regions of the Philippines grappled with extensive damage left by Tropical Storm Trami on Friday. Using spades and rakes, they cleared debris, while rescue teams combed through thick mud searching for the missing. The death toll has now risen to 76 as reports continue to emerge.
Trami unleashed torrential downpours, releasing two months’ worth of rain in just 48 hours in some areas. This led to severe flooding that displaced tens of thousands of residents. In the heavily affected Bicol region, Police Director Andre Dizon reported that many people were still trapped on rooftops, awaiting rescue. “We hope the floods will recede since the rain has stopped,” he said.
However, accessibility has posed a significant hurdle, especially in Bicol. President Ferdinand Marcos acknowledged the challenge, citing landslides and inaccessible roads. “It’s been difficult to reach Bicol because of these landslides in unexpected areas,” he stated.
In Laurel, a town near the volcanic Lake Taal south of Manila, residents faced extensive damage. Roads were blocked by fallen trees, homes were filled with mud, and vehicles lay half-submerged. Local resident Mimie Dionela, 56, described the terrifying ordeal, recalling how appliances and cars were swept away by flash floods. “If it had happened at night, the loss of life would have been greater,” she said.
Others, like Jona Maulion, who recently opened an auto repair shop in Laurel, wondered if they could afford to rebuild. “We were hopeful for success,” she shared. “Now, everything is gone.”
Rising Death Toll as Recovery Efforts Continue
As Tropical Storm Trami moved westward across the South China Sea, new reports of casualties emerged. In Batangas province, the confirmed death toll rose to 43, with most casualties from the towns of Laurel, Talisay, and Agoncillo. Sixteen people were still missing in Talisay, according to Batangas Police Chief Jacinto Malinao.
The thick mud has hindered search efforts, with some areas blanketed in up to 10 feet of debris and boulders. “We hope there will be no rain in the coming days so we can recover the bodies quickly,” Malinao stated.
In the Bicol region, 29 fatalities were confirmed, while other areas also reported additional losses. President Marcos acknowledged that Naga and Legazpi cities had reported numerous casualties, though accessing these areas remains a challenge.
Emergency Response and Evacuations
An official report late Thursday indicated that nearly 320,000 people were evacuated across Luzon, the main island, as floodwaters turned streets into rivers and buried entire towns in mud mixed with volcanic sediment dislodged by the storm. Rescuers in Naga city and Nabua municipality used boats to rescue stranded residents, many of whom had posted desperate calls for help on social media.
Meanwhile, efforts to locate a missing fisherman off the coast of Bulacan province were suspended due to strong currents, the local disaster office reported.
The Philippines faces roughly 20 major storms and typhoons annually, often resulting in extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. Recent studies indicate that climate change has intensified storms in the Asia-Pacific region, causing them to form closer to coastlines, strengthen rapidly, and last longer over land.
As rescue and relief operations continue, government officials and local communities are hopeful that the weather will remain stable, allowing faster recovery for the affected areas.
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