MANILA – Rescue operations are intensifying in the northern Philippines after Tropical Storm Trami unleashed deadly floods and landslides, leaving nearly half a million people displaced and causing at least 87 fatalities. Hardest hit are the Bicol and Batangas regions, where residents are stranded in flooded areas, some clinging to rooftops awaiting assistance.
Regional police director Andre Dizon reported that floodwaters remain high, complicating rescue efforts in the Bicol region where food and water are running scarce. “We need to rescue them as soon as possible because starvation can be a problem,” Dizon said, expressing particular concern over reports of children falling ill.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos visited affected areas on Oct 26 to assess the damage and coordinate with local officials. In Batangas, rescue teams are battling through thick mud—up to 3 meters deep in some places—searching for missing individuals. Local police chief Jacinto Malinao expressed hope, saying, “Deep inside, I am hoping that many of those reported missing are not under the mud and boulders.”
The disaster has forced approximately 495,000 people from their homes, with hundreds of villages submerged. The Philippines, struck by about 20 severe storms annually, faces an ongoing challenge as climate change contributes to more intense and unpredictable weather patterns.