Tropical Storm Trami Causes Severe Flooding in the Philippines
Tropical Storm Trami unleashed torrential rains across the Philippines on Wednesday, leading to significant flooding and prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents from their homes. As the storm approached the northern region, it was reported to be packing winds of up to 52 miles per hour, according to the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Predictions indicated that Trami would make landfall by Thursday morning on Luzon, the most densely populated island in the archipelago.
The rainfall, which is referred to as Kristine in the Philippines, began to accelerate on Tuesday, inundating vast stretches of both central and northern regions of the country. Albay province, in particular, was severely affected, as detailed by the Office of Civil Defense.
“The worst is yet to come,” stated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday. “The volumes of water are unprecedented.”
Reports from Albay province indicated that the area experienced two months’ worth of rainfall within a mere 24-hour period, leading to neighborhoods being submerged in neck-deep water, according to civil defense officials. The local authorities in Quezon province reported that over 7,000 individuals had to be evacuated due to the storm’s impact. Tragically, at least one fatality has been confirmed by the Office of Civil Defense as a result of the storm.
The effects of Trami were felt throughout various regions of the Philippines, including Manila, the nation’s capital. In response to the escalating situation, authorities suspended classes, closed businesses, and stranded thousands of cargo workers and passengers at seaports due to the adverse weather conditions.
As the storm is projected to traverse the northern Philippines by Thursday, it is expected to continue its path westward toward Vietnam and the Chinese island of Hainan, as outlined by the storm tracking data from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The Philippines typically endures an average of 20 storms each year, with many areas being especially susceptible to flooding.