At least 26 Dead as Tropical Storm Trami Devastates the Philippines
Tropical Storm Trami has caused significant devastation in the Philippines, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 people.
TroibNews 
Tropical Storm Trami has claimed the lives of at least 26 individuals and displaced over 150,000 in the Philippines, officials reported on Thursday as the storm made landfall on the northeastern coast.
Locally referred to as severe tropical storm Kristine, Trami unleashed heavy to torrential rain across Luzon, the country's primary island, leading to significant flooding and landslides.
According to the state weather agency's 11 a.m. bulletin, the storm was moving west at a speed of 95 kph through the mountainous northern region of Cordillera towards the South China Sea. The agency issued warnings for heavy to intense rainfall, flooding, landslides, and storm surges affecting several northern provinces.
Most of the fatalities over the past days were attributed to drowning and landslides in the central Bicol region, including Naga City, where officials confirmed 14 deaths on Thursday.
Divilacan in Isabela Province was the site of landfall for Trami. Ezikiel Chavez, the town's disaster chief, noted that there had been no reported fatalities there.
In response to the impending severe weather, the government mandated the closure of businesses and schools in the storm's trajectory in preparation for anticipated heavy rains and flooding.
According to the civil defense office, over 163,000 individuals sought refuge in evacuation centers, with the majority located in Bicol, as residents evacuated their homes when floodwaters rose as high as the roofs of bungalow houses.
On Thursday, the civil aviation regulator announced that at least a dozen flights throughout the country had been cancelled due to the storm's impact.
The central bank also halted foreign exchange trading and monetary operations for the second consecutive day.
Typically, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 tropical storms each year, which frequently bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the potential for deadly landslides.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Locally referred to as severe tropical storm Kristine, Trami unleashed heavy to torrential rain across Luzon, the country's primary island, leading to significant flooding and landslides.
According to the state weather agency's 11 a.m. bulletin, the storm was moving west at a speed of 95 kph through the mountainous northern region of Cordillera towards the South China Sea. The agency issued warnings for heavy to intense rainfall, flooding, landslides, and storm surges affecting several northern provinces.
Most of the fatalities over the past days were attributed to drowning and landslides in the central Bicol region, including Naga City, where officials confirmed 14 deaths on Thursday.
Divilacan in Isabela Province was the site of landfall for Trami. Ezikiel Chavez, the town's disaster chief, noted that there had been no reported fatalities there.
In response to the impending severe weather, the government mandated the closure of businesses and schools in the storm's trajectory in preparation for anticipated heavy rains and flooding.
According to the civil defense office, over 163,000 individuals sought refuge in evacuation centers, with the majority located in Bicol, as residents evacuated their homes when floodwaters rose as high as the roofs of bungalow houses.
On Thursday, the civil aviation regulator announced that at least a dozen flights throughout the country had been cancelled due to the storm's impact.
The central bank also halted foreign exchange trading and monetary operations for the second consecutive day.
Typically, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 tropical storms each year, which frequently bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the potential for deadly landslides.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
