Tropical Storm Wreaks Havoc in Philippines: 7 Dead, Thousands Affected

Philippines Battered, 7 Dead, Thousands Displaced

“One person drowned inside a bus that was swept away by floodwaters in the...”

Tropical Storm Trami Hits Philippines: Lahar Flow, Evacuations, and Storm Surge Warnings

Rescue teams in the Philippines braved chest-deep floodwaters on October 23 to save residents stranded by Tropical Storm Trami. The storm has claimed seven lives and displaced thousands.

Tropical Storm Trami brought intense rainfall, turning streets into rivers, submerging communities, and burying vehicles under volcanic debris. The deluge has ravaged northern Philippines.

Police reported over 32,000 evacuees as Trami approaches Luzon, the country's main island. The storm's fury has prompted widespread evacuations.

“In the Bicol region, about 400 kilometres (249 miles) southeast of the capital Manila, 'unexpectedly high' flooding was complicating rescue efforts.

“We sent police rescue teams but they struggled to enter some areas because the flooding was high and the current was so strong,” regional police spokeswoman Luisa Calubaquib said.

Another police officer said, “one person drowned inside a bus that was swept away by floodwaters in the Bicol city of Naga, where three others also drowned.”

Philippines' capital, Manila, records first fatality from Tropical Storm Trami as a person succumbs to injuries from a falling tree branch.

As of 2 p.m. local time (0600 GMT), Trami's center was 160 km east of Aurora province, Luzon, with sustained winds of 85 km/h, reports the national weather agency. Landfall is expected near Divilacan at 11 p.m. (1500 GMT).

Severe flooding hits Camarines Sur province, submerging streets in Bato municipality under muddy waters, with only rooftops visible. Nearby Naga suffers extensive flooding, with half of its 600 villages inundated.

During an emergency meeting on October 23, President Ferdinand Marcos warned, “The worst is yet to come,” as Tropical Storm Trami bears down on the Philippines.

Tropical Storm Trami Update:

• 1 reported fatality in Manila
• Trami's center located 160 km east of Aurora province, Luzon
• Expected landfall near Divilacan at 11 p.m. (1500 GMT)
• Severe flooding in Camarines Sur and Naga
• President Marcos warns of worsening situation

“I'm feeling a little helpless here because all we can do is sit tight, wait, hope and pray that there is not too much damage, that there are no casualties.”

Around 2,500 evacuation centers in Bicol, Philippines, provide shelter to families displaced from their homes.

Bicol police spokeswoman, Calubaquib, reported an additional hazard resulting from Tropical Storm Trami's rains: “There was also a lahar flow in Albay,” referring to the dangerous flow of volcanic sediment from the iconic Mayon volcano.

Further north, authorities took proactive measures to ensure public safety. Officials evacuated 216 individuals from the coast near Divilacan and an additional 60 from Palanan municipality after the weather service issued warnings of a moderate to significant risk of life-threatening storm surges or high coastal waves.

“They had to conduct preemptive evacuations in response to the storm surge warning.

“They had to evacuate some Indigenous people who are living in houses made of light materials,” Isabela provincial disaster official Constante Foronda said.

The Philippines is prone to typhoons, especially during this season. However, climate change has intensified their impact. Recent research reveals that typhoons now form closer to shore, intensify faster, and linger longer over land.

The country bears the brunt of around 20 major storms and typhoons annually, affecting both the Philippines and surrounding waters. These natural disasters wreak havoc on homes, infrastructure, and claim numerous lives.