Philippines mobilizes armed forces as storm wreaks havoc, kills dozens

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Philippines on Friday ordered “full mobilization” of armed forces as severe storm Trami submerged towns and killed at least 40 people.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the armed forces of the Philippines to mobilize its resources to assist in the relief operations, an official statement said.

Tropical storm Trami, locally known as Kristine, has severely hit the Southeast Asian archipelago nation with heavy downpours and winds.

More than 20 of the people were killed in the hard-hit Bicol region.

Marcos also ordered the deployment of presidential helicopters to aid the typhoon victims while the Philippines National Police, Fire Brigades and the Philippine Coast Guard were placed on high alert.

“I want to see a conveyor belt of aid that is constantly delivering aid to the front,” he told officials.

Marcos, however, acknowledged that search and rescue operations faced accessibility issues due to floods, heavy down pour as well as broken roads due to landslides.

The cities of Naga and Legazpi were reporting “many casualties but we haven’t been able to get in yet,” Marcos told a news conference.

Regions south of the capital Manila saw heavy destruction as the storm moved past the western Philippines toward the South China Sea.