The death toll and number of missing individuals due to massive flooding and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines have exceeded 100, with President Ferdinand Marcos reporting that many areas remain isolated and in need of rescue.
As of Saturday, the storm, one of the deadliest to hit the Southeast Asian nation this year, has left at least 81 people dead and 34 others missing.
Emergency personnel have been working tirelessly, using heavy machinery and sniffer dogs to locate survivors, including the last two missing villagers in the lakeside town of Talisay in Batangas province.
In the town’s center, more than a dozen white coffins lay side by side, containing the remains of those recovered from the mudslides. President Marcos highlighted the unprecedented rainfall that overwhelmed flood controls, stating, “The water was just too much.” With over 4.2 million people affected by the storm, many were evacuated to emergency shelters.
The government has shut down schools and offices for safety, and while weather conditions have improved in some areas, the region braces for potential further threats as forecasts suggest the storm could make a U-turn, impacting Vietnam next.
Each year, the Philippines faces about 20 storms, with past disasters like Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 serving as a grim reminder of the challenges posed by climate change.
Peoplesmind
