Manila (Web Desk): n the northern Philippines, homeowners worked hard to clear debris left by Tropical Storm Trami on Friday, as the death toll reached 76. Many used spades and rakes to remove mud and wreckage, while rescuers searched through the thick sludge for missing individuals.
The storm caused severe flooding, displacing tens of thousands of people, as it delivered two months’ worth of rain in just two days in some regions.
Andre Dizon, the police director for the heavily impacted Bicol region, reported that many residents remained stranded on their rooftops, calling for help.
"We hope the floods will recede today since the rain has stopped," he said.
Accessibility was a major issue for rescuers, especially in Bicol, where President Ferdinand Marcos noted the difficulty in reaching those in need.
He added that the saturated ground led to landslides in areas that previously had none.
On the main island of Luzon, government offices and schools stayed closed, although storm surge warnings were lifted as Trami moved further out to sea.
The state weather agency revealed that Batangas province experienced 391.3 mm of rain over just two days, equating to two months’ worth.
An official report indicated that nearly 320,000 people had been evacuated due to severe flooding, which turned streets into rivers and buried some towns under volcanic sediment.
In Naga City and Nabua municipality, rescuers used boats to reach residents trapped on rooftops, with many reaching out for assistance through social media.
The search for a missing fisherman whose boat sank off Bulacan province was suspended due to strong currents, according to local disaster officials.
The Philippines is typically hit by about 20 major storms and typhoons each year, causing significant damage and loss of life.
A recent study highlighted that storms in the Asia-Pacific region are increasingly forming closer to coastlines and intensifying more rapidly due to climate change.
