Tropical Storm Trami has caused heavy rainfall, leading to severe flooding in northern Philippines, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and thousands forced to evacuate.
The torrential rains from the circulation of Tropical Storm Trami have transformed streets into rivers, submerging many homes and vehicles in northern Philippines. Police reported that over 47,500 people have been evacuated as the storm approaches the main island of Luzon.
President Ferdinand Marcos ordered rescue forces to be ready for response today, as the storm is expected to make landfall in the northeastern province of Isabela on the night of October 23 or in the early morning of October 24, with winds reaching 95 km/h.
“I fear that the worst is yet to come. We all need to prepare. Rainfall of this magnitude is unprecedented, and we must monitor closely,” President Marcos stated.
Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Trami caused severe flooding in Sorsogon province, Bicol region, Philippines on October 23. (Video: Philippine Red Cross).
The national meteorological agency Pagasa has warned of the risks of strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surges devastating coastal towns. Government agencies and schools across the main island of Luzon have been forced to close.
Trami has brought heavy rainfall to the Bicol region, about 400 km southeast of the capital Manila, causing floodwaters to rise higher than expected, complicating rescue efforts.
Media images show floodwaters reaching the rooftops of single-story homes. Rescue teams had to navigate through chest-deep water to reach stranded residents.
“We have deployed rescue police teams, but they are having difficulty accessing some areas due to high floodwaters and strong currents,” said regional police spokesperson Luisa Calubaquib.
Philippine Coast Guard evacuating residents from flooded areas in Libon town, Albay province on October 23. (Photo: AFP).
At least 12 people have died in Naga city, according to Police Chief Erwin Rebellon. Two additional deaths have been reported in other areas of Bicol. Five fishermen are currently missing.
In the municipality of Bato, Camarines Sur province, streets are submerged in floodwaters, with homes and convenience stores barely visible above the surface. “The situation is becoming increasingly dangerous. We are waiting for rescue forces,” said Karen Tabagan, a resident of Bato.
In Naga, about 40 km from Bato, half of the 600 villages are completely submerged due to flooding. Torrential rains have also occurred in Albay province.
“In just 24 hours, our area has received rainfall equivalent to nearly two months’ worth,” said Cedric Daep, head of the provincial disaster response agency.
Homes nearly submerged in Bato, Camarines Sur province on October 23. (Photo: AFP).
After making landfall in the Philippines, Tropical Storm Trami is expected to enter the East Sea with winds reaching level 9. Fueled by the sea, the storm could increase one level each day, reaching level 12 (133 km/h) by the afternoon of October 26, with gusts up to level 15 over the waters northeast of the Paracel Islands. Due to the influence of cold air, the storm will veer south on October 27, heading toward the waters of Central Vietnam, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
About 20 major storms hit the Philippines and surrounding waters each year, damaging homes, infrastructure, and causing dozens of fatalities. However, recent studies show that storms are increasingly forming close to shore, intensifying rapidly, and persisting longer over land due to climate change.
