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Tropical Storm Trami has exited the northwestern Philippines, but the aftermath is dire, with the storm leaving at least 65 fatalities due to landslides and severe flooding. Thousands of residents found themselves trapped, with emergency services urgently mobilizing rescue boats to assist those stranded, some on their rooftops.
Officials are on high alert as meteorologists raised concerns that Trami, identified as the 11th storm this year and among the deadliest, might change its trajectory next week due to high-pressure winds in the South China Sea.
In Batangas province, south of Manila, a provincial police chief reported that 33 people died primarily from landslides triggered by Trami. The increasing death toll highlights the devastating impact of the storm.
Col. Jacinto Malinao Jr. shared updates from Talisay, a lakeside town, indicating that 11 individuals remain unaccounted for. He recounted the anguish of a local fisherman whose wife and child were lost to the landslide, which occurred amidst relentless rainfall while he was tending to fish cages.
Rescue operations utilized equipment such as backhoes and shovels to sift through approximately three meters of mud and debris, leading to the discovery of remains believed to belong to the missing family. Malinao described the emotional distress faced by the villagers, emphasizing the trauma felt by those who have lost loved ones.
Monitoring Potential Storm Shifts
As of Friday afternoon, Trami was reported to be located 410 kilometers west of Ilocos Sur province, with sustained winds reaching up to 95 kilometers per hour and gusts of 115 kilometers per hour. The storm is moving in a northwest direction at approximately 30 kilometers per hour, with Vietnam bracing for potential impacts as early as Sunday.
The Philippine weather agency indicated the possibility of Trami veering back toward the Philippines due to prevailing high-pressure systems and other weather dynamics in the South China Sea.
President Ferdinand Marcos expressed concern about these forecasts during an emergency meeting, questioning the likelihood of the storm returning. A government meteorologist indicated that while a U-turn is possible, Trami is more likely to remain offshore without making landfall.
Despite the possibility of the storm avoiding direct impact, Marcos stressed the continued dangers posed by heavy rains caused by Trami, which are adding to the already severe flooding in affected areas.
Additionally, Marcos noted the emergence of another storm in the Pacific that might present further risks to the country and its residents.
Forecasters in the Philippines are collaborating with experts from various Asian countries, including Japan, to monitor the developments surrounding Trami more closely.
The toll from Trami’s impact includes 26 fatalities in the Bicol region, known for its agricultural significance and tourist attractions such as Mayon Volcano. Although Trami did not escalate to typhoon status, it unleashed unusually heavy rainfall in certain areas, leading to flash floods that overwhelmed communities.
In severely affected areas like Naga City, officials reported drownings and called for additional rescue resources as many residents were trapped in their homes.
The effects of the storm have displaced over 2.6 million people, with around 320,000 taking shelter in evacuation centers or with relatives. In response to the disaster, schools and government offices on Luzon, the main northern island, were closed, and inter-island ferry services were suspended, leaving many stranded.
Vietnam’s meteorological agencies are also on alert, expecting heavy rainfall in central regions. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed coastal provinces to prepare for potential impacts from the storm.
Notably, Vietnam experienced substantial devastation just last month from Typhoon Yagi, which resulted in 323 fatalities and approximately $3.3 billion USD in damages.
Throughout the year, the Philippines faces numerous tropical storms and typhoons, with an annual average of about 20 events. The country has a history of resilience, but storms like Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which resulted in over 7,300 casualties and extensive destruction, serve as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of this region to severe weather events.
Source
www.cbc.ca