Death toll from tropical storm Trami in Philippines reaches 100 Rescuers Search for Dozens Missing

The death toll from Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines has climbed to 100, with rescuers continuing their search for dozens of missing people in remote and flooded areas.

The storm, one of the deadliest to strike the Southeast Asian country this year, made landfall on October 24, displacing over half a million people and leaving widespread destruction, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Police in the hard-hit Bicol region reported 38 fatalities, mainly from drowning, while the number of deaths in Batangas province, south of Manila, rose to 55, according to provincial police chief Jacinto Malinao. Other casualties included fatalities in Cavite and additional provinces, adding to a total tally of 100.

Rescue efforts remain challenging as the search continues in isolated areas and floodwaters persist. The Bicol regional police director, Andre Dizon, reported that many residents in Camarines Sur are still trapped on rooftops or upper floors, awaiting aid. “We are receiving numerous distress calls and are working tirelessly to rescue as many people as possible,” Dizon stated.

In Batangas, landslides triggered by heavy rains have claimed most of the lives, with over 20 bodies pulled from mudslides and another 20 people still missing. Rescue teams, including police, coast guards, and a Marines diving unit, were scouring Taal Lake in search of a family swept away when floodwaters hit their home.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council estimated that around 560,000 people have been displaced by the storm, with villages across northern Philippines inundated by floodwaters. The Philippines, prone to tropical storms, is struck by about 20 significant weather events annually, often leading to loss of life and severe infrastructure damage.

Recent studies suggest that climate change may be intensifying storms in the Asia-Pacific region, causing them to form closer to coastlines, increase in strength more rapidly, and linger over land for extended periods, adding further risk to vulnerable communities.

By Khagan Isayev