Philippines to boost aid response after Tropical Storm Trami kills 139
Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits a village affected by Tropical Storm Trami. Photo: EPA
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has vowed to strengthen the Philippines disaster management response and aid distribution, coinciding with a day of mourning to honour the victims of Tropical Storm Trami, which killed 139 people.
“Our goal is to never again repeat the loss of lives due to disasters,” Marcos said during a speech on Monday in one of the municipalities hardest hit by Trami.
Marcos Jr’s plan includes increasing warning times for typhoons, in a country that usually experiences about 20 strong tropical storms a year, and lowering water levels in dams in advance to avoid flooding.
“It’s never enough. I wish we could do more,” he told local media.
Trami hit the Philippines two weeks ago, where torrential rains and strong winds caused flooding and landslides.
More than seven million people were affected, 139 died and dozens were injured.
Just days after Trami had passed, Super Typhoon Kong-rey hit on its way to Taiwan, leading Philippine authorities to put the combined toll from both storms at about 150 dead and 130 injured.
The national mourning and the presidential visit to one of the Philippines’ most affected areas, came as a new cyclone gained strength.
Cyclone Yinxing is located 775 kilometres east of the province of Eastern Samar, according to the Philippine Meteorological Agency.
The agency said Yinxing will continue to gain strength until it reaches the category of super typhoon and was predicted to make landfall between Thursday and Friday in the country’s north.
-EFE