Tropical Storm “Trami” has left a trail of destruction in the Philippines. The main island of Luzon is particularly affected.
Most victims drowned after heavy rainfall, were buried by landslides or were hit by falling trees. The number of deaths has now risen to 66, police said. Most died in Batangas province, southwest of Manila, and in the Bicol region, where mudslides from the Mayon volcano buried dozens of homes and vehicles. Twenty people are still missing. The water was sometimes meters high.
According to authorities, more rain fell in 24 hours in some parts of the country than normal in two months. According to the mayor, about a third of the city of Naga City with more than 200,000 inhabitants was completely flooded.
In total, more than 2.65 million people were affected by the storm. Nearly 320,000 people had to flee their homes, according to civil protection. Schools remained closed for the third day in a row.
Some areas inaccessible
Although the water masses were slowly receding in some areas, local authorities said some areas were still inaccessible. Emergency services tried to clear the streets of mud and debris to find a way to those affected.
“Help is on the way. It will come by land, by air and even by sea,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promised. He ordered the full mobilization of available military personnel and all resources that could be used for the relief effort.
“Trami” could return on Sunday and Monday
“Trami, who is called ‘Kristine’ in the Philippines, was expected to leave the Philippines in the evening (local time). But it could come back again: The agency warned of the possibility that “Trami” could make a counterclockwise loop on Sunday and Monday and then move eastward across the Philippines again.
Although “Trami” is not classified as a full-blown typhoon, the destruction is still enormous. Just a few weeks ago, typhoon ‘Krathon’ hit the island state. In early September, “Yagi” swept through the islands and killed about twenty people. Tens of thousands had to leave their homes.
The Philippines is hit by violent storms and an average of about twenty typhoons every year. The worst storm to date, ‘Haiyan’, claimed more than 6,300 lives in November 2013.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
