Tropical Storm Trami Claims at Least 76 Lives in the Philippines”

Devastating Tropical Storm Trami has left at least 76 people dead as it sweeps through the Philippines, causing widespread destruction and prompting rescue efforts. Learn more about the storm’s impact and recovery initiatives.

At least 76 people have lost their lives in the central and northern regions of the Philippines following Tropical Storm Trami’s destructive impact. The storm caused landslides and flooding, leaving residents stranded on rooftops and displacing nearly 320,000 individuals.

As the storm exits the country on Friday, leaving behind a trail of destruction, state forecasters are highlighting the unusual possibility that it might make a U-turn next week. This potential reversal is due to high-pressure winds forming in the South China Sea pushing it back.

A Philippine provincial police chief reported on Friday that 47 individuals were killed, primarily due to landslides triggered by Trami in Batangas province, located south of the capital city, Manila.

Colonel Jacinto Malinao Jr informed ABS-CBN News from the lakeside town of Talisay that seventeen villagers were still missing in Batangas, where several victims had been buried under a thick layer of mud, boulders, and trees.

While Trami did not intensify into a typhoon, it brought exceptionally heavy rains to certain areas. Some regions experienced one to two months’ worth of rainfall within just 24 hours, resulting in flash floods that inundated communities.

According to disaster mitigation officials who spoke with the AP, over 2.6 million individuals were impacted by the flooding, and nearly 320,000 sought refuge in evacuation centers or moved in with relatives for safety.

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As of Friday, 7,510 passengers are still stranded in ports and 36 flights have been canceled.

According to the Philippine National Police, 29 individuals lost their lives due to floodwaters and landslides in the Bicol region of central Philippines. Among these victims, at least 11 fatalities resulted from drowning.

Nine other people were reported injured, and four are still missing.

In the foothills of Mayon Volcano in Albay province, a torrent of mud and debris swept towards nearby towns when the storm struck, engulfing houses and vehicles in dark mudflows.

As of Friday afternoon, the storm was last observed 410 kilometers (255 miles) west of northwestern Philippines. It had sustained winds reaching up to 95 km/h (59 mph) and gusts peaking at 115 km/h (78 mph), moving in a northwest direction towards Vietnam.

Every year, approximately 20 storms and typhoons hit the Philippines, a Southeast Asian archipelago situated between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea.

In September, Tropical Storm Yagi struck the country, resulting in at least 11 fatalities.