The death toll from Tropical Storm Trami has climbed to 100 as it ravages the Philippines, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake. The storm, which made landfall on October 24, is one of the deadliest storms to strike the region this year, with dozens still missing and thousands awaiting rescue.
Authorities report that over half a million people have been forced to flee their homes due to widespread flooding and landslides. The worst-hit area, the Bicol region, recorded 38 fatalities, primarily from drowning. Bicol regional police director Andre Dizon said, “We are still receiving many calls and trying to save as many people as we can,” hoping the fatalities do not rise further.
In Batangas, south of Manila, the provincial police confirmed that the death toll there alone has reached 55, with many casualties resulting from rain-induced landslides. More than 20 bodies were pulled from mud and debris, and several families remain missing, swept away by floodwaters. Additional deaths were reported in Cavite and surrounding provinces, bringing the total to 100, as per official police and disaster agency records.
Rescue teams, including divers and coast guards, continue the search for survivors in isolated areas. On Sunday, a Marines diving team joined the efforts in Taal Lake, searching for a family of seven whose home was reportedly swept away by floods from the mountains.
The devastation has displaced nearly 560,000 residents, submerging entire villages across northern regions of the Philippines. The national disaster agency warns that with roads now cleared to previously unreachable areas, the death toll may climb in the coming days.
The Philippines experiences around 20 major storms and typhoons annually, and studies suggest storms are now forming closer to coastlines and intensifying rapidly due to climate change, causing increased destruction and longer impacts over land.
