Photo credit: PCO

The heartbreaking impact of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) and Super Typhoon Leon (Kong-rey) continues to unfold, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reporting that the death toll has now climbed to 139 as of Wednesday. However, only 14 of these deaths have been officially validated so far, including nine in Bicol, two each in Central Luzon and Cordillera, and one in Northern Mindanao. The remaining 125 fatalities are still being confirmed, with Calabarzon and Bicol accounting for the majority of these cases.

In addition to lives lost, the storms have left a staggering number of people missing, with 21 individuals yet unaccounted for, including 15 from Calabarzon. Injury reports stand at 86, with 10 confirmed as verified.

The storms' effects have been vast, impacting 1.7 million families across the nation, with nearly 7 million individuals affected in 10,948 barangays across 17 regions. Thousands are finding refuge in evacuation centers, with nearly 87,000 families sheltering in these facilities and more than 91,000 families receiving aid outside.

The damage has been devastating. Around 111,000 homes have been impacted across 16 regions, and the storms’ toll on agriculture and infrastructure is immense, with losses amounting to PHP2.83 billion and PHP3.61 billion, respectively.

As the nation rallies to support those affected, officials continue to assess the full impact, providing a sobering reminder of the storms' power and the resilience of communities working to rebuild.