Death toll in the Philippines rises amidst flooding & landslides after tropical storm

The death toll in the Philippines from Tropical Strom Trami has exceeded 100 as rescuers scramble to locate dozens of missing people.

The slow-moving storm Trami, locally known as Kristine, hit Luzon island on Oct. 23 and northwest Philippines on Oct. 24, bringing massive flooding and landslides in its wake, AP and Reuters reported, displacing nearly half a million people to evacuation centres.

Local officials reported two months' worth of rainfall in a day.

Up to 41 people were reported missing following the storm, said the disaster risk reduction agency on Saturday, Bangkok Post reported.

President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a statement on X that the government has been deploying "relief, recovery, and rehabilitation amidst the severe devastation" in the Bicol Region which was inundated by torrential rains.

We have been tirelessly and urgently working towards the immediate deployment of relief, recovery, and rehabilitation amidst the severe devastation caused by Typhoon Kristine (Trami) in the Bicol Region.

Lahat ng mapagkukunan ng inyong pambansang pamahalaan ay inilalaan upang… pic.twitter.com/U97yDFYSSm

— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) October 24, 2024

"I make this pledge to our people: Help is on the way. It will come by land, air, and, even by sea," he said.

Yesterday we started sending aid and commenced rescue operations in the areas affected by STS Kristine. Today, we will continue sending our help and aid.

I make this pledge to our people: Help is on the way. It will come by land, air, and, even by sea.

I have ordered the full… pic.twitter.com/q4tjuZVLtI

— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) October 25, 2024

The local weather agency warned that the storm, which moved over the South China Sea towards Vietnam on Friday, could loop back and linger off the coast as soon as Oct. 27.

More than 5 million people were in the path of the storm, including nearly half a million who mostly fled to more than 6,300 emergency shelters in several provinces.

The Philippine government shut down schools and government offices for the third day on Friday to keep people home and  safe on the main northern island of Luzon.

Singapore provides aid

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has deployed one Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130 transport aircraft at the request of the Philippines Government to aid in humanitarian efforts, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release dated Oct. 26.

It will support the Philippines government in providing airlift support to deliver humanitarian aid supplies to communities affected by the storm.

Top photo via Mina696645851/X