Why Is the Philippines So Vulnerable to Tropical Storms?

Tropical Storm Trami, known locally as Kristine, recently caused a lot of damage in the Philippines. The storm hit the northeastern part of the country and brought strong rains and winds. This caused heavy flooding and landslides, making it the most destructive storm this year. The Philippines sees many typhoons each year. What made Trami so bad was the heavy rain it brought. So far, nearly 130 people have died, and many are still missing. The government is trying hard to get help to those who need it, but it's not easy because the floods have made many roads impossible to use. Kierwen Garlan, who lives in Sorsogon province, saw the water rising quickly. He was worried, but his house is on higher ground. He and some neighbors helped clear roads and get aid to those who needed it. They were worried about diseases spreading because of the dirty water.

A town called Bulan in Sorsogon was one of the first to declare an emergency. It was quickly flooded, but luckily, no one died there. Pictures show that many roads were covered in thick mud, making it hard for rescue teams to get through. The president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, sent army assets to help. He said they would use any means necessary to help the people affected. In Batangas province, a town called Talisay was badly hit by landslides. Many homes were destroyed, and entire families were trapped. The governor advised people to bury their loved ones quickly because another storm might be coming soon. Raynaldo Dejucos lost his whole family to a landslide. He said he was trying to be strong, but it was very hard. A two-year-old girl was rescued but lost her whole family. The Philippines is often hit by natural disasters because it's in a region that's very vulnerable to climate change. This means they need to find new ways to protect themselves from these storms.

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