MANILA, Philippine: Rescue operations are underway in the Philippines following the catastrophic impact of Tropical Storm Trami, which made landfall on October 24.
As of Sunday, the death toll has tragically reached 100, with more than half a million people forced to evacuate their homes, AFP reports.
The national disaster agency has reported that at least 36 individuals remain missing, heightening concerns about the overall impact of the storm.
In the Bicol region, which was among the hardest hit, local police have confirmed 38 fatalities, primarily due to drowning. Bicol regional police director Andre Dizon emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that many residents remain trapped in their homes, clinging to roofs and upper floors as floodwaters rise. The situation in Batangas, located south of Manila, is equally dire, with the provincial police reporting 55 deaths, alongside incidents of electrocution and drowning.
Rescuers are conducting searches in remote areas, including a family of seven believed to be missing at Taal Lake, where their home was swept away by flooding. As search and rescue efforts continue, authorities anticipate that the death toll may rise, as access to previously isolated areas improves.
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The national disaster agency reports that approximately 560,000 people have been displaced due to severe flooding, which has submerged numerous villages across northern Philippines. Tragically, this disaster highlights a growing trend in the region; a recent study indicates that storms in the Asia-Pacific are becoming more frequent and intense, often forming closer to coastlines. The Philippines is hit by around 20 significant storms and typhoons each year, and the impacts of climate change are increasingly exacerbating these events.
As communities come together to recover from the devastating effects of Trami, the focus remains on ongoing rescue efforts and providing assistance to those affected.
