The first effects of Typhoon Trami (or Kristine) have appeared, bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding in many areas.

Tropical Storm Trami, known in the Philippines as Kristine, continues to move west-northwestward over the sea east of Quezon and maintains its strength. The storm is expected to intensify before making landfall and may affect some areas with heavy rains, strong winds, and coastal flooding.

On the morning of October 23 (local time), Kristine was approaching Isabela or north of Aurora, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to Mimaropa, Visayas, and Mindanao. The first effects of the storm have caused initial damage.

Many areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have begun to feel the negative effects of Tropical Storm Kristine, which has caused floods and landslides, forcing thousands to flee their homes, disrupting sea travel and leaving hundreds of passengers and boats stranded at seaports. Schools, businesses and other commercial activities have also been suspended.

Many parts of the Philippines have been flooded

Many of these localities have yet to provide an exact number of residents who have been evacuated, but in Maguindanao province alone, about 300,000 families had to take shelter on Tuesday after days of rain submerged most villages, authorities said.

Philippine disaster officials warned that the situation could get worse as the full impact of the unusual weather phenomenon has yet to be felt in the areas where the typhoon is expected to make landfall – in Isabela on Wednesday or Aurora on Thursday.

One person was missing in Leyte while two of his companions were rescued when their boat broke down in waters off the town of Merida on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard reported.

The Southeast Asian country’s agriculture sector could also be dealt a major blow, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) estimating that Kristine could damage more than a million hectares of farmland, mostly rice fields.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, more than 20 flights in Luzon and the Visayas were also canceled on Tuesday, affecting more than a thousand passengers.

Recent Images from the Philippines

Tomorrow, October 24, the storm is expected to make landfall in Isabela or north of Aurora early in the morning, crossing Northern Luzon and ending in the afternoon. On October 25, the storm will exit the Philippines and is likely to re-strengthen. There is still much uncertainty in the forecast track and intensity, and significant changes are possible in the coming days.

A total of 26 areas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 2 on October 23. This is the same warning level as when Typhoon Yagi (known in the Philippines as Typhoon Enteng) made landfall in the country earlier this September, killing at least 16 people.