Rescuers in the Philippines are working urgently to find dozens still missing after Tropical Storm Trami hit the country on October 24, leaving a trail of destruction and at least 100 confirmed deaths.
The storm, one of the most deadly this year, forced over half a million people to abandon their homes and caused extensive flooding across northern regions of the archipelago.
The Bicol region has suffered the most severe losses, with 38 fatalities, primarily from drowning, according to regional police. "We continue to receive rescue calls and aim to save as many people as possible," said Bicol’s regional police director, Andre Dizon. In Camarines Sur, numerous residents remain stranded on rooftops as floodwaters have not receded.
South of Manila, the province of Batangas reports 55 deaths, with many casualties due to rain-induced landslides.
Provincial police chief Jacinto Malinao confirmed that over 20 bodies have been found in mud and debris, while around 20 people are still missing. Search teams, including police, coast guards, and a Marines diving unit, are scouring Taal Lake for a family of seven feared swept away by floodwaters. Malinao vowed to continue the search until all missing are accounted for.
As of Sunday, the national disaster agency reported that roughly 560,000 people have been displaced by the disaster, with hundreds of villages submerged. The severity of the storm’s impact has renewed concerns about climate change in the region, as studies suggest that storms in the Asia-Pacific are becoming stronger, forming closer to coastlines, and intensifying more rapidly.
The Philippines, which experiences about 20 storms annually, faces frequent damage to homes and infrastructure as well as recurring casualties.