At least 81 people have been reported dead as severe tropical storm Kristine (international name: Trami) pummeled the Philippines, according to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno.
In a news forum on Saturday, October 26, Nepomuceno cited data from the OCD showing that the province of Calabarzon has the highest reported number of deaths at 48, followed by Bicol with 28. Sixty-six individuals have been reported injured, while 34 are still missing. He noted that these figures are still subject to validation.
The OCD said that 4.4 million people, or 1.06 million families, were severely impacted by Kristine, with 311,468 individuals displaced and are still in evacuation centers as of Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that at least 547 areas across Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao experienced flooding.
Further, 83 cities and municipalities in the Philippines are currently under a state of calamity.
Kristine left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon (October 25), according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, which also warned that the storm could potentially re-enter PAR depending on the development of cyclone Kong-Rey.
