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As Tropical Storm Trami barrels toward the eastern coast of the Philippines, rescuers on Wednesday waded through chest-deep floodwaters to reach residents trapped by the rising water. The storm has forced thousands to evacuate their homes, highlighting the urgent need for assistance in affected areas.
Heavy rains fueled by the storm have created river-like conditions on the streets, inundating entire villages and burying some vehicles to their door handles in volcanic sediment that was loosened by the intense downpour. This has resulted in a significant crisis for local residents, who now face severe flooding.
Police have indicated that at least 32,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in the northern Philippines due to the impending storm, which is making its way toward Luzon, the country’s primary island. The scale of this evacuation reflects the growing concern for public safety as the storm approaches.
Police officials indicated that in the Bicol region, situated around 400 kilometers (249 miles) southeast of Manila, “unexpectedly high” floodwaters were complicating rescue missions. This situation has led to urgent calls for additional resources to assist with the ongoing challenges faced by rescuers.
“We sent police rescue teams but they struggled to enter some areas because the flooding was high and the current was so strong,” regional police spokeswoman Luisa Calubaquib told AFP.
The national weather agency indicated that as of 8:00 AM (0000 GMT), Tropical Storm Trami’s center was 310 kilometers east of Aurora province, sustaining maximum winds of 85 kilometers per hour. This positioning underscores the urgency for residents in the region to remain vigilant as the storm progresses toward land.
Photos verified by AFP showed streets submerged by muddy floodwaters in Camarines Sur province’s Bato municipality, with only the roofs of houses and convenience stores visible.
“It’s getting dangerous. We’re waiting for rescuers,” resident Karen Tabagan told the press.
In Naga city, about 40 kilometres from Bato, half of the 600 villages were fully submerged by flooding.
At an emergency meeting of government agencies Wednesday morning, President Ferdinand Marcos said that “the worst is yet to come”.
