Nearly 60,000 villagers in Sorsogon reel from Kristine’s impact

SANTA MAGDALENA, Sorsogon — Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) has impacted nearly 60,000 residents across 14 towns in Sorsogon, the provincial government reported on Friday, Oct. 25.

According to a preliminary report, the storm affected at least 58,952 people, or 15,119 families, across more than 500 barangays, causing significant damage to properties and livelihoods.

At least 13,085 families (55,318 individuals) were forced to evacuate their homes, while 1,308 families (3,634 individuals) sought temporary refuge in safer locations outside official evacuation centers.

LIVE UPDATES: Severe Tropical Storm Kristine

The provincial government also recorded 34 individuals with minor injuries and one fatality in Juban town, where a 56-year-old man was swept away by strong currents in Barangay Binanuahan.

Myla Relativo, head of the provincial social welfare office, confirmed that nearly all affected families and evacuees have already received assistance.

“The province provided 8,600 food packs to LGUs (local government units) within the first 24 hours, and now, within 48 hours, almost all affected families have been reached, with 14,776 recipients,” she said.

READ: Over 10,000 residents evacuated in Quezon City due to Kristine

Engr. Raden Dimaano, chief of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, lauded the effectiveness of the province’s disaster response.

“If casualty numbers had been higher, it would indicate gaps in coordination, deployment, and staff training. Given the low rate of reported injuries, it’s clear that Sorsogon has demonstrated strong resilience in the face of this storm,” Dimaano noted.