Widespread flooding, torrential rain, and landslides triggered by Tropical Storm Trami have left over 100 dead in eastern Philippines, the heart of the nation was tested as the storm ripped through the country. People were left trapped on rooftops for hours due to the severe floods. By dawn, it was evident that the storm would leave a mark on the nation, as flash floods swept away lives, homes, and a sense of normalcy.
More than 100 lives have been lost across 17 regions, impacting the lives of over seven million people (Doctors Without Borders). The provinces of Luzon and Visayas have been battered by relentless rain, sweeping flash floods, and landslides. Trami left entire communities isolated by floodwaters and struggling for survival. Homes, fields, and livelihoods have been devastated, leaving families in despair over how to start over again and return to normal life.
(Wednesday October 23, 2024)
Towns and cities were swallowed by monstrous floodwaters, forcing thousands onto rooftops, praying for rescue and crying for help. Texts and calls flooded hotlines including to Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur province, each carrying a desperate plea from people saying, “Help us, rescue us.” In some areas, the floodwaters surged to 10 feet high, leaving villagers clinging to any shelter they could find.
The Bicol region, known for its enduring spirit, was hit the hardest (Newsweek), where at least 20 people lost their lives. Roads transformed to rivers, and vehicles disappeared like shipwrecks under torrents of water. Brigadier General Andre Dizon’s voice carried the intensity of the situation: “We can’t rescue them all at once because there are so many. We’re doing all we can, but the challenges are overwhelming.”
Thousands of families have now found shelter in emergency evacuation centers, but the feeling of loss and uncertainty weighs heavy in the air. “We need national intervention,” Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur province said on DZRH radio. Military aircraft and ships were now on standby for evacuation and disaster response. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro reported that additional help might come from other countries, underscoring the urgency and scale of this tragedy.
With the storm now moving westward, survivors are left grappling with the large task of rebuilding. Memories of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 surface—a painful reminder of vulnerability and resilience, with each storm that devastated the Philippines. Yet even as these memories haunt the collective heart of the nation, they also fuel its unshakeable spirit. For now, as the waters slowly recede and Trami moves westward, Filipinos cling to one another, finding strength in unity, determined to rebuild again once more.
Sources Referenced:
https://www.newsweek.com/tropical-storm-trami-leaves-24-people-dead-philippines-1974088
https://www.newsweek.com/philippines-tropical-storm-trami-flooding-rescue-asia-1973453