Tropical storm Trami has caused severe flooding and landslides in Philippines, leaving at least 126 people dead or missing, according to the government’s disaster-response agency. President Ferdinand Marcos said on Saturday that many areas remain isolated, and people are in urgent need of rescue.
Trami, also known as Kristine, exited the northwestern Philippines on Friday, resulting in at least 85 deaths and 41 missing persons, making it one of the deadliest storms of the year in the region, according to the government agency. The death toll is expected to rise as more reports emerge from previously inaccessible areas.
Emergency personnel, including police and firefighters, are using backhoes and sniffer dogs to continue search and rescue efforts in the lakeside town of Talisay in Batangas province. In the town center, more than a dozen coffins bearing the remains of storm victims were lined up. These victims were discovered amidst mud, boulders, and trees from landslides.
President Marcos inspected another severely affected region southeast of Manila, highlighting the overwhelming impact of the rainfall. “The water was just too much,” he said. “We’re not done yet with our rescue work. Many areas remain flooded and inaccessible, even by large vehicles.”
Marcos stressed the need for a major flood control project to address future climate threats. Over 5 million people were affected by the storm, with nearly half a million displaced to emergency shelters.
In an emergency Cabinet meeting, officials raised concerns about the possibility of the storm making a U-turn due to high-pressure winds in the South China Sea. If its course remains unchanged, the storm is expected to reach Vietnam over the weekend.
To ensure public safety, the Philippine government closed schools and offices on Friday, and suspended inter-island ferry services, stranding thousands. As weather conditions cleared on Saturday, cleanup operations began in many areas.
The Philippines, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, experiences around 20 storms and typhoons annually. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan left over 7,300 people dead or missing and devastated entire communities.