Tropical Storm “Trami” devastates the Philippines: more than 80 dead

Severe Tropical Storm Trami has claimed at least 81 lives in the Philippines and nearly half a million people have been forced to leave their homes. Edgar Posadas, spokesman for the disaster management agency, said almost all of the affected areas were flooded. In total, more than 4.2 million people were affected by the storm.

The most affected areas are the main island of Luzon, on which the capital, Manila, is located, in addition to the province of Batangas, southwest of Manila, and the Bicol region. Nelson Legacion, mayor of Naga City, in Bicol, said many streets were still flooded, with water reaching people's necks in some areas.

“The Tram” may return

Authorities are already expecting another storm tomorrow, which could be upgraded to a typhoon on Monday and could hit the northern Philippines in particular. Authorities also warn that Trami may rotate counterclockwise and then move east across the Philippines again.

Although “Trami” is not classified as a full-blown hurricane, the devastation is still massive. Just a few weeks ago, Hurricane Krathon swept through the island nation. At the beginning of September, Yagi invaded the islands, killing about 20 people. Tens of thousands were forced to leave their homes.

The Philippines is exposed to strong storms and experiences about 20 typhoons on average every year. The worst storm to date, Haiyan, killed more than 6,300 people in November 2013.