Rescuers in the Philippines are racing to reach residents stranded by rapidly rising floodwaters after Tropical Storm Trami unleashed torrential rains, submerging villages and resulting in the tragic deaths of over 20 people. The storm made landfall on the main island of Luzon, leading to widespread closures of schools and government offices across the northern region. “The rain is not stopping, so the floods are going up fast. We have received countless reports asking for rescue,” said April Serrano, a rescue official in Batangas province. Hospitals, such as one in the town of Lemery, have been forced to turn away patients as floodwaters inundated wards and emergency rooms.
As the storm continued its destructive path, a surge warning was issued for Pangasinan province, with officials estimating wave heights could reach two meters (6.6 feet). In the Bicol region, particularly in Naga city and Nabua municipality, rescuers were using boats to reach residents stranded on rooftops, relying on social media posts for information. Regional police chief Brigadier-General Andre Dizon reported at least 20 fatalities, primarily due to drowning and landslides. Meanwhile, the state weather bureau indicated that the storm’s eye was passing over the Ilocos region, accompanied by wind speeds of up to 95 kilometers per hour. With over 30,000 people evacuated in the Bicol region alone, the storm exemplifies the increasing intensity and frequency of such natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, which continues to pose significant threats to lives and infrastructure in the Philippines.
