Cities in the east were flooded as Trami approached

Officials say heavy rains from an approaching tropical storm inundated cities and towns in the eastern Philippines overnight, causing widespread flooding that trapped people, some on roofs, and sparked frantic calls for rescue boats and trucks, officials said.

The government has closed public schools and government offices – except those urgently needed for disaster response – across the main island of Luzon to protect millions of people as Tropical Storm Trami approaches from the Pacific.

At least one person has died after being struck by a fallen tree branch in central Masbate province and seven others are missing, including three men who left Masbate for a high-seas fishing trip but did not return, officials said yesterday.

The storm was centered about 310 km east of the town of Baler in northeastern Aurora province, with winds reaching 85 km/h and gusts of up to 105 km/h.

State forecasters said a wide band of rainfall could dump up to 20 cm of rainwater in a single day in the most vulnerable provinces in its path.

The storm was forecast to hit the Aurora coast from yesterday evening into this morning, then move through the mountain ranges, valleys and plains of northern Luzon before reaching the South China Sea later in the week, they said.

Thousands of rural residents were evacuated to emergency shelters in northeastern provinces, and storm warnings were issued in more than two dozen northern and central provinces, including Manila, which was not in the storm’s direct path but could be lashed by heavy rains.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr canceled all his meetings yesterday and called an emergency meeting at the military headquarters to discuss disaster relief efforts, Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said.

During the meeting, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said military aircraft and ships would be used for evacuations and disaster response.

He said friendly countries, including Singapore, could provide additional airlift power if needed.

Coast guard personnel have been rescuing residents of flooded villages in the eastern provinces of Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and outlying regions since Tuesday, but provincial authorities said the number of rescue boats and personnel was insufficient.

Thousands of passengers and cargo workers were stranded at several seaports after the Coast Guard said it had suspended ferry services between islands and banned fishing vessels from sailing into increasingly rough seas. —AP