Nearly 320,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in the Philippines due to flooding and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Trami. At least 76 people have been killed, with 47 deaths reported in Batangas province alone. The storm has left a trail of destruction in its wake, with state forecasters warning of a rare possibility that it could make a U-turn next week. In some regions, one to two months’ worth of rainfall fell in just 24 hours, leading to flash floods and widespread devastation.
More than 2.6 million people have been affected by the storm, with thousands stranded at air and seaports. In the Bicol region, 29 people were reported killed in floodwaters and landslides, with more casualties reported in other parts of the country. The storm has caused mudflows in the foothills of the Mayon Volcano in Albay province, engulfing homes and cars in its path.
Disaster mitigation officials have been working to assist those affected by the storm, with thousands seeking refuge in evacuation centers or with relatives. The storm is currently moving northwestward towards Vietnam, with sustained winds of up to 95 km/h and gusts of up to 115 km/h. The Philippines, being an archipelago in a typhoon-prone region, experiences about 20 storms and typhoons each year. In September, at least 11 people were killed when Tropical Storm Yagi hit the country.
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