**Trami's Devastation in the Philippines: Over 100 Dead or Missing and Communities in Ruin**

Tropical Storm Trami has left a trail of devastation in the Philippines, causing widespread flooding and landslides that have resulted in the death or disappearance of nearly 130 people, according to the Associated Press. The storm, which is known locally as Kristine, forced approximately half a million residents to evacuate and seek shelter in emergency centers.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the situation as "horrific" and marked by "tremendous loss" in a social media post. Marcos emphasized the severity of the crisis, noting that many areas in the northwestern Philippines remain inundated and difficult to access. Local media reported that some regions experienced one or two months' worth of rainfall within just 24 hours, accumulating over 19 inches of water.

The Philippine government has mobilized resources to deliver food, medical supplies, and financial aid to affected communities. Marcos highlighted the extent of the storm’s impact, stating that entire communities are underwater, families have been displaced, and livelihoods have been severely disrupted. A state of emergency has been declared in Quezon City, located northeast of Manila, to address the crisis.

Among the hardest-hit areas is Bicol, where floodwaters have submerged residential neighborhoods and agricultural land, with Naga City particularly affected. Talisay, a town in Batangas province, also witnessed significant devastation, situated about 40 miles south of the capital.

President Marcos vowed that assistance would reach all affected areas by any means necessary—land, air, or sea. In an emergency meeting, he also expressed concern that Trami, after making landfall in central Vietnam, might reverse direction due to opposing winds in the South China Sea, potentially returning to cause further damage.

Visiting evacuation centers in Bula, Camarines Sur, Marcos stressed the importance of finding long-term solutions to the recurrent flooding, which experts link to climate change. The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, frequently faces extreme weather events such as typhoons and fatal flooding. The increased incidence of such events this year has heightened concerns over the impacts of global climate change, which is believed to exacerbate extreme weather conditions by increasing humidity and heat indexes.