Philippines: Tropical Cyclone Trami/Kristine - Flash Update No.2, As of 28 October 2024, 5pm local time

Severe Tropical Storm Trami (local name: Kristine), exited the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR) on 25 October moving towards the West Philippines Sea and made landfall in Vietnam on 27 October. STS Trami/Kristine caused widespread flooding and landslides in Region 5 on 22 October. It made landfall in the Province of Isabela in northern Luzon on 24 October and continued to cause flooding in Region 2 and flash floods in Region 4A massive landslide burying a number of houses in Talisay, Batangas. More than 6.7m people (1,662,416 families) have been affected across 17 out of 18 regions in the country. Around 980k have been displaced, of which 561k people are in one of the 6,286 evacuation centres (EC) and 418k temporarily staying elsewhere. Clean up and recovery efforts are ongoing in areas where flood waters have started to recede, and people have started to return to their houses. The number of casualties has risen with 97 reported deaths, 69 injured, and 30 missing. The National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is still validating reports as they come in. Another Tropical Cyclone with the international name Kong-rey (local name: Leon) entered PAR on 27 October. Its forecast track of north northwestward may come close to the Batanes Group of Islands in Luzon.

Impact and Affected Areas

A total of 160 cities/municipalities in the country were declared under the State of Calamity. Local capacities are stretched with rescue and response efforts still ongoing. Government and other partners face access issues due to flooded and damaged roads. The main road leading to Naga, Camarines Sur, remains flooded, resulting in slow movement of trucks transporting relief items. Of the 350 cities with affected power supply, 123 still have power outages; 23 out of 32 cities/municipalities remain with water supply interruptions.

Food access remains a challenge for poor and hard to reach communities whose livelihoods were damaged or affected by floods, including those of vulnerable sectors especially pregnant and lactating mothers. In Polangui, Albay, approximately 300 hectares spanning five villages were submerged. Municipalities in Bicol and Eastern Samar have expressed the need for food augmentation as supplies are depleted. The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported over 25,000 hectares of crops are totally damaged and over 26,000 partially damaged affecting 58,571 farmers/fisherfolks. At present, 352 schools are being utilized as ECs. There is a need for safe drinking water and proper storage as most water sources have been damaged and contaminated, with sanitation facilities submerged in floodwater.

Protection is also a top concern as common facilities in ECs leaves women and children exposed to protection risks. The establishment of safe spaces for women and children and the deployment of gender-based violence (GBV) response teams should be prioritized. Over 44,000 houses were damaged, of which over 3,000 are irreparable. Houses made of light materials were swept away. With rains expected to return in the coming days, affected communities need emergency shelter materials. Many families lost personal belongings, clothes, kitchen and cooking kits. In areas experiencing power outages, flashlights and solar lamps are critical for safety and protection. In Talisay, Batangas more than 100 houses and vehicles were buried after continuous heavy rains resulted in a landslide, burying part of the town. The local government has relayed the need for WASH support, particularly water filtration systems, for the displaced population. In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the BARMM Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) reports around 607,185 people (121,437 families) have been affected in 34 municipalities of four BARMM provinces; of these,7,541 families remain inside 18 evacuation centers. Since 21 October, heavy rainfall caused the overflow of Rio Grande de Mindanao flooding the low lying municipalities of two Maguindanao provinces and the Special Geographic Areas (SGAs). Seventeen houses were damaged, majority of reported were in Lanao del Sur. Over 1,900 hectares of agricultural land were damaged, affecting 1,585 farmers in two Maguindanao provinces. Suspension of classes have been declared in several affected areas of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte and Cotabato City.