Tropical Storm Trami Leaves at Least 82 Dead in Philippines

My wife was breast feeding our 2-month-old baby,

Dejucos told The Associated Press Saturday in a municipal basketball gym, where the five white coffins of his entire family were laid side by side with those of a dozen other landslide victims

The risks of floods are high at urban areas from Ha Tinh to Binh Dinh provinces,

the agency said

We are still receiving many calls and we are trying to save as many people as we can,

Bicol regional police director Andre Dizon told AFP

A higher death toll is possible in the coming days since rescuers can now reach previously isolated places,

Edgar Posadas of the Civil Defence Office told AFP

The waters from the mountains hit their home in Balete town, causing it to be swept away with them possibly inside,

Malinao, the provincial police chief, said

We will continue searching until all bodies are retrieved,

Malinao said

We're not done yet with our rescue work,

he said

Bongbong Marcospresident

The water was just too much,

Marcos told reporters

The floods have yet to subside. Calls asking for help are still pouring here,

regional police director Andre Dizon told AFP

We are desperate to find people in safe condition. Deep inside, I am hoping that many of those reported missing are not under the mud and boulders, but simply went somewhere without telling others,

Malinao, the police chief, said

This tropical cyclone is expected to gradually intensify and may reach severe tropical storm category on Sunday. Furthermore, it may also reach typhoon category on Monday,

Pagasa said

We are still hoping for the best,

said Malinao, the police chief

Bongbong Marcospresident

We have flood control systems but the amount of water is unmanageable. This is climate change. This is all new, so we have to come up with new solutions too,

Marcos added

Our main problem here is that many areas are still flooded,

he told government officials during a briefing

Depending on how close it will be during its recurvature over the Philippine Sea, the outer rainbands of [Leon] may also affect Extreme Northern Luzon. Furthermore, it may also continue to influence the southwesterly windflow initially triggered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, which may affect the western section of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the coming days,

it added

Bongbong Marcospresident

Oh God, it is what it is. We just have to deal with it,

Marcos said

Bongbong Marcospresident

It doesn't have to make landfall for the damage to occur,

Marcos said, citing the continuing downpours set off by Trami in the Philippines

Many are still trapped on the roofs of their homes and asking for help,

Andre Dizon, police director for the hard-hit Bicol region, told AFP

The greatest challenge here really is the thick mud. In our location, the mud is about 3m high with debris and boulders,

Malinao said

We saw washing machines, cars, home equipment, roofs being swept away,

Mimie Dionela, 56, told AFP