MANILA, Philippines — Heavy rainfall triggered by an approaching tropical storm has inundated cities and towns across eastern Philippines, causing major flooding that left many individuals stranded on rooftops, prompting urgent requests for rescue boats and trucks, officials reported Wednesday.
In a bid to safeguard millions from the oncoming Tropical Storm Trami, the government ordered the closure of public schools and government offices across the main island of Luzon, maintaining operations only for critical disaster response services.
The tropical storm, located approximately 310 kilometers (193 miles) east of Baler in the northeastern province of Aurora, has maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers (53 miles) per hour with gusts reaching 105 kilometers per hour (65 miles). It is expected to make landfall along the coast of Aurora on Wednesday night.
Emergency shelters received thousands of evacuees from northeastern provinces, while storm alerts were issued in more than two dozen provinces in the northern and central regions, including the densely populated capital, Manila. Fortunately, there have been no reports of fatalities or serious injuries so far.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended all of his appointments on Wednesday to concentrate on coordinating extensive search, rescue, and relief operations, with plans for an emergency meeting at military headquarters to address disaster mitigation initiatives, according to Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez.
Former Vice President Leni Robredo, who resides in the northeastern city of Naga, shared on Facebook that many individuals had been stranded on their roofs for several hours. She added that rescue trucks have encountered challenges due to the flooding, expressing hope that flooding would decrease at low tide later in the morning.
Since Tuesday, coast guard teams have been actively rescuing stranded residents in inundated communities within the eastern provinces of Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and adjacent areas. However, local authorities indicated that the number of available rescue boats and personnel was inadequate to meet the demand.
Many passengers, along with cargo transport workers, found themselves stranded at various seaports after the coast guard canceled inter-island ferry services and prohibited fishing vessels from sailing into the increasingly turbulent waters.
“We need national intervention,” stated Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur province during an interview with DZRH radio, noting that his flood-affected province possesses about 50 rescue boats but requires around 200 due to the extensive calls for aid from residents.
Evacuations from low-lying and landslide-prone areas began two days prior, but there are still many individuals in desperate need of assistance. “Last night, I received continuous calls and messages from people pleading for rescue,” Villafuerte recounted. “It’s disheartening to feel powerless amid this overwhelming crisis.”
In Quezon province, Governor Angelina Tan reported that floodwaters in certain regions have reached heights of up to 3 meters (almost 10 feet), leading to the evacuation of at least 8,000 residents from vulnerable communities.
The Philippines, known for encountering around 20 typhoons and storms annually, also resides in the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an area that experiences numerous volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries globally.
The memory of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 is still fresh, as it claimed the lives of over 7,300 people, devastated entire villages, dragged ships inland, and displaced more than 5 million individuals throughout the central Philippines.