Manila
The death toll from tropical storm Trami, which caused devastating flooding and landslides in the Philippines last week, has risen to 116, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday. At least 39 individuals remain unaccounted for following the disaster.
Trami unleashed two months’ worth of rain, affecting over 6.7 million people across 17 regions. The storm left behind a path of destruction, especially in the Bicol and Calabarzon regions, as well as areas in central and southern Philippines. Floodwaters caused significant damage, collapsing highways and bridges, and inundating homes with mud.
Three days after Trami exited the Philippines, many disaster victims are still awaiting food and clean water, with numerous areas lacking potable water and electricity. Although some evacuees have started returning home as floodwaters recede, around 1 million people remain displaced, either in evacuation centers or with relatives.
The estimated damage from Trami amounts to 1.54 billion pesos (approximately US$26.35 million) in infrastructure and 2.5 billion pesos (US$43 million) in agricultural losses.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of Trami, it is bracing for more rain from another tropical cyclone, Kong-rey, which intensified into a severe tropical storm on Monday morning over the Philippine Sea. Kong-rey, the 12th tropical cyclone of the year, is moving westward with winds of 95 km per hour and gusts of up to 115 km per hour, and may undergo rapid intensification, according to weather officials. The Philippines typically faces an average of 20 typhoons annually.
