Philippine rescue workers struggled against rising floodwaters on Friday to assist residents still stranded on the roofs of their homes as Tropical Storm Trami moved away from the coast, having claimed at least 40 lives. Tens of thousands of people were still displaced after evacuating due to the severe flooding caused by torrential rains that brought nearly two months' worth of precipitation in just two days in some areas.
"Many are still trapped on the roofs of their homes and urgently need help," said Andre Dizon, the police director for the heavily affected Bicol region. "We are optimistic that the floods will recede today, as the rain has ceased." He noted that a lack of rubber boats was the primary obstacle, but additional boats were being dispatched.
As Trami exited the Philippines early on Friday, heading westward across the South China Sea, the storm's death toll continued to rise with new reports of casualties. Although the capital, Manila, appeared to have avoided the extensive flooding seen during Typhoon Gaemi in July, a subdivision south of the city was largely underwater, according to reporters.
Government offices and schools on the main island of Luzon remained closed on Friday, and storm surge warnings were still active along the west coast, with potential waves reaching up to two meters in height. An official report released late Thursday indicated that 193,000 people had been evacuated due to flooding that transformed streets into rivers and partially buried some towns in mud-like volcanic debris stirred up by the storm.
The Philippines, or its surrounding waters, experiences approximately 20 major storms and typhoons each year, resulting in significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and numerous fatalities.
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