Hanoi (VNA) – Widespread flooding and landslides caused by tropical storm Trami in the northeastern Philippines left at least 24 people dead on October 24, swept away cars and prompted authorities to scramble for motorboats to rescue trapped villagers.
Schools and government offices have been shut down for a second straight day. Storm Trami slammed into the country's northeastern province of Isabela early morning of October 24, blowing over Aguinaldo town in the mountain province of Ifugao after dawn with sustained winds up to 95 km per hour (kph) and gusts up to 160 kph. Experts forecast that the storm is moving westward and will enter the East Sea later on October 24.
At least 24 people died, mostly due to drowning in the hard-hit Bicol region and nearby Quezon province. However, local authorities expected the toll will rise as towns and villages isolated by flooding and roads blocked by landslides and toppled trees.
About 1,500 police officers have been deployed for disaster-mitigation work. But dangerous weather conditions pose difficulties for relief efforts.
The Philippine disaster-mitigation agency said more than 2 million people were affected by the storm, including 75,400 villagers who were displaced from their homes and are sheltering on safer areas.
About 20 storms and typhoons batter the Philippines each year. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones in the world, left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and flattened entire villages./.
