In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines, the death toll has reached nearly 130, with at least 85 people confirmed dead and 41 others still missing. The storm caused massive flooding and landslides, making it one of the deadliest and most destructive storms in the country so far this year. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with emergency personnel working to locate and rescue those still trapped in affected areas. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as reports come in from previously isolated regions, highlighting the widespread devastation caused by the storm.
In the lakeside town of Talisay in Batangas province, search and rescue teams were able to recover the remains of one of the last two missing villagers. A father, who was waiting for news on his missing 14-year-old daughter, identified the body and wept as rescuers placed it in a body bag. The community in Talisay is mourning the loss of their loved ones, with more than a dozen white coffins laid out in a basketball gym to hold the remains of those found in the debris of the landslides.
President Ferdinand Marcos visited a hard-hit region southeast of Manila and expressed concern over the unprecedented volume of rainfall brought by Tropical Storm Trami. The storm overwhelmed flood controls in several provinces, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Marcos pledged to start work on a major flood control project to address the challenges posed by climate change. More than 5 million people were affected by the storm, with hundreds of thousands seeking shelter in emergency facilities across the country.
Despite the weather clearing up in many areas on Saturday, cleanup efforts were still underway in the aftermath of the storm. The government shut down schools and government offices to ensure the safety of the population, with inter-island ferry services also suspended. The Philippines is no stranger to natural disasters, with about 20 storms and typhoons hitting the country each year. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones, caused widespread devastation and left thousands of people dead or missing. The government continues to prioritize disaster preparedness and response to mitigate the impact of such disasters in the future.
