Torrential rains cause MM floods

MANILA, Philippines - Parts of Metro Manila experienced intense and torrential rainfall early yesterday due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by typhoon “Karen” (international name “Sanba”), causing floods in some parts of the metropolis, the state weather bureau said.

Forecaster Jori Loiz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said intense and torrential rainfall measuring between 15 mm to 30 mm an hour affected parts of Metro Manila early yesterday.

The heavy rains experienced from late Friday to Saturday morning flooded streets in Metro Manila, forcing the evacuation of some 300 families in Quezon City.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos said there was no forced evacuation of residents in the affected areas of Quezon City.

“There’s no forced evacuation because as the weather improved the floodwaters also receded,” he said.

Among the affected areas in Quezon City were those along Don Ramon street, N.S. Amoranto, Don Ramon-Caraballo; Don Ramon-Calamba; Don Ramon-Malambo, Don Ramon-Ma. Clara, Talayan corner Bessang Pass, Araneta Avenue corner Amoranto; Araneta Avenue corner Calamba; and Araneta Avenue corner Ma. Clara street.

Traffic was at a standstill along the stretch of España Boulevard in Manila, forcing private motorists to look for alternate routes only to be stalled by unfinished road construction projects within the Sampaloc district.

The same situation was monitored in Barangay Sto. Domingo, specifically along Quezon Avenue near the corner of Banawe street where floodwaters was several inches deep.

The Manila Traffic Operations Center said portions of España Boulevard and Taft Avenue were not passable early Saturday because of flooding. The streets of Recto, Avenida, and Sta. Mesa were also flooded.

At around 2 p.m. yesterday, floodwaters subsided with all streets in Manila passable to all types of the vehicles.

The heavy downpour and floods caused the suspension of classes in Manila, including those in the University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, University of the Philippines-Manila, De La Salle University, National University, and the University of the East.

In Malabon, classes were suspended due to the flooding that hit Mara Clara, Borromeo Simbahan, Riverside; University site; Sitio-6-24; Sanchez street; Maysilo; Mabolo and Niugan.

In San Juan City, at least 120 residents living along the creek were evacuated because of rising floodwaters coming from the Talayan River in Quezon City.

The operations of LRT, however, were not disrupted despite the floods, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) spokesman Hernando Cabrera said.

At least 10 domestic flights were cancelled because of the heavy rains, the NDRRMC said.

PAGASA said the heavy rainfall was categorized as “intense” while rainfall that goes beyond 30 mm in an hour is classified as “torrential.”

Loiz said the heavy downpour began at 10 p.m. Friday and lasted until 8 a.m. yesterday, but the peak was recorded at around 2 a.m.

PAGASA said the peak rains were recorded at 22.5 mm in an hour while heavier downpour was recorded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Marikina City that showed that 24 mm of rain fell in an hour.

PAGASA said Port Area in Manila recorded 38 mm of rain while the Science Garden in Quezon City monitored a 48 mm amount of rain in an hour at 2 a.m.

Loiz attributed the large volume of rain to the southwest monsoon pulled by Karen as it moved north-northwest at the speed of 15 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Karen was spotted at 680 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes.

“Typhoon Karen has no direct effect but the storm enhanced the southwest monsoon so we will continue to experience rains,” said government meteorologist Gary de la Cruz.

PAGASA said Karen is expected to be out of the country before midnight tonight or early tomorrow morning.

The storm is expected to move north-northwest toward the western side of Japan and proceed to Jeju Island of South Korea at 19 kph.

PAGASA said Karen increased speed because the high-pressure area that was blocking its path has receded.

PAGASA said Metro Manila would still be cloudy with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms, with moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest. Manila Bay would be moderate to rough.

Occasional moderate to heavy rains would be experienced in Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon that might trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), the Bicol region and Western Visayas would be cloudy with scattered light to moderate rains.

The rest of the country would have partly cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms in the evening.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the north to northwest would prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from southwest over the rest of Luzon and the Visayas, and the coastal waters along these areas would be moderate to rough.

Mindanao would have light to moderate winds blowing from the south to southwest with slight to moderate seas. – With Jaime Laude, Janvic Mateo, Reinir Padua, Pete Laude