In brief
With over 2 million people affected, the storm highlights escalating climate challenges faced by the Philippines.
More than 20 people have died as Tropical Storm Trami unleashed a month’s worth of rainfall across large areas of the northern Philippines, prompting the evacuation of approximately 150,000 residents. The storm, which made landfall on Thursday along the northeast coast of Luzon, the country's most populous island, resulted in extensive flooding and damage due to mudslides, particularly impacting the Bicol peninsula.In Bicol, urgent rescue calls flooded social media as residents became trapped on the roofs of their submerged homes. Coast guard units, using rubber boats, were deployed for rescue operations, addressing the pleas of those in dire situations. “It's getting dangerous. We're waiting for rescuers,” said local resident Karen Tabagan to AFP News Agency.The storm, referred to locally as Kristine, overwhelmed the region with rainfall amounts that surpassed the normal expectations based on 30 years of meteorological data, according to Ana Claren, a forecaster from the state weather bureau. "The rains were really severe. We did not expect this," lamented Albay province's acting governor, Glenda Bonga.Furthermore, Trami’s intense conditions have contributed to volcanic mudslides originating from Mount Mayon, affecting several nearby villages. Images circulating on social media depicted homes partially buried in grey mud, adding to the disaster’s harrowing effects.Rescue operations have been difficult due to the strong winds and currents, complicating efforts to locate a missing fisherman from Bulacan province, where a boat capsized amidst perilous weather. The impact of the storm was extensive, leading to the cancellation of at least a dozen flights, as officials continued to issue warnings for persistent rain, flooding, and potential landslides.The Philippines experiences an average of four typhoons annually, many of which can be deadly. However, recent years have exhibited increasingly severe weather patterns, prompting concerns about the escalating impact of climate change on these storm events.
