MANILA, Philippine: Rescuers in the Philippines are scrambling to reach residents stranded by severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Trami, which has claimed over 24 lives, primarily in the Bicol region.
The storm made landfall on Luzon, the country’s largest island, and has led to significant destruction south of the capital, Manila. As of Thursday morning, many of the deaths occurred due to drowning or landslides, according to regional police reports.
In areas like Naga city and Nabua, rescuers are using boats to evacuate people still stranded on rooftops. The storm dumped a month’s worth of rainfall in just 24 hours, particularly affecting provinces like Camarines Sur and Albay. Over 30,000 people were evacuated from their homes as the storm’s intense flooding turned streets into rivers.
Tropical storms and typhoons are common in the region, and the increasing frequency and severity of storms have been linked to climate change. Trami, with wind speeds reaching 95 km/h (59 mph), is expected to exit the island within 12 hours, but the damage left behind continues to devastate the area. Rescue operations are ongoing, with the search for missing individuals, including a fisherman whose boat sank off the coast of Bulacan.
