Rescuers in the Philippines continued intensive search efforts on Sunday as the death toll from Tropical Storm Trami rose to 100, with dozens still missing. The storm, one of the most lethal this year, struck on October 24, displacing over 560,000 people and triggering widespread flooding across the nation’s northern regions.
The Bicol region, where 38 fatalities have been confirmed, saw many lives lost due to drowning. Police in Camarines Sur are responding to calls from residents trapped on rooftops, with Bicol police director Andre Dizon reporting, “We are still receiving calls and trying to save as many people as we can.” Batangas, south of Manila, has recorded 55 fatalities, primarily from landslides, with provincial police chief Jacinto Malinao saying search efforts will continue until all bodies are recovered.
In Batangas' Taal Lake, coast guards, police, and Marines divers are focusing on locating a family of seven, whose house in Balete town was swept away by floodwaters. Most fatalities in Batangas are linked to rain-induced landslides, with over 20 bodies recovered from mudslides, and many more still unaccounted for.
The Civil Defense Office warned that the death toll may climb further as isolated areas are reached. Meanwhile, the flooding has devastated hundreds of villages, marking a stark reminder of the risks faced by the Philippines, where an average of 20 storms and typhoons hit annually.
Climate experts note a concerning trend, with recent studies showing that storms in the Asia-Pacific are now forming closer to coastlines, intensifying rapidly, and sustaining strength over land, attributed to climate change.
The Bicol region, where 38 fatalities have been confirmed, saw many lives lost due to drowning. Police in Camarines Sur are responding to calls from residents trapped on rooftops, with Bicol police director Andre Dizon reporting, “We are still receiving calls and trying to save as many people as we can.” Batangas, south of Manila, has recorded 55 fatalities, primarily from landslides, with provincial police chief Jacinto Malinao saying search efforts will continue until all bodies are recovered.
In Batangas' Taal Lake, coast guards, police, and Marines divers are focusing on locating a family of seven, whose house in Balete town was swept away by floodwaters. Most fatalities in Batangas are linked to rain-induced landslides, with over 20 bodies recovered from mudslides, and many more still unaccounted for.
The Civil Defense Office warned that the death toll may climb further as isolated areas are reached. Meanwhile, the flooding has devastated hundreds of villages, marking a stark reminder of the risks faced by the Philippines, where an average of 20 storms and typhoons hit annually.
Climate experts note a concerning trend, with recent studies showing that storms in the Asia-Pacific are now forming closer to coastlines, intensifying rapidly, and sustaining strength over land, attributed to climate change.
