Metro Manila placed under state of calamity

Monsoon-induced torrential floods inundate Metro, neighboring provinces

MANILA, Philippines — Relentless rain drenched much of Luzon yesterday, triggering floods in Metro Manila and landslides in mountainous northern regions as Typhoon Carina intensified the seasonal southwest monsoon.

A state of calamity was declared for Metro Manila, unlocking funds for relief efforts, after the state weather forecaster warned of “serious flooding” in some areas.

In the densely populated capital, rescuers were deployed across the city to help evacuate people from low-lying homes after downpours turned streets into rivers, trapping vehicles.

People clutched flimsy umbrellas as they waded through murky water three feet deep or used small boats and shopping trolleys to move around.

“The disturbance it caused is great. The waters reached the second floor of our house,” Nora Clet, a homemaker, told AFP.

Restaurant employee Rex Morano said he wasn’t able to work due to the “very high” floodwaters.

Government offices were shut and classes suspended, at least 80 domestic and international flights were canceled and hundreds of thousands of customers lost power because of the weather.

Some shopping malls offered temporary shelter to people affected.

“Many areas are flooded so we have rescuers deployed all over the city. There is an overwhelming number of people asking for help,” Peachy de Leon, a disaster official in Metro Manila, told AFP.

“We were told last night the rain will not hit us, then the rain suddenly poured so we were quite shocked. There is an ongoing search and rescue now.”

Typhoon Carina, which has swept past the Philippines as it heads towards Taiwan, intensified the southwest monsoon rains typical for this time of year, the state weather forecaster said.

“Usually the peak of rainy season is July and August and it so happens that there is a typhoon in the eastern waters of the Philippines that enhances the southwest monsoon,” senior weather specialist Glaiza Escullar told AFP.

More than 200 millimeters (nearly eight inches) of rain fell in the capital in the past 24 hours, Escullar said, which was “not unusual.”

More heavy rain was expected on Thursday.

Landslides killed a pregnant woman and three children in Batangas and blocked three major roads in the mountainous Benguet, police and disaster officials said Wednesday.

That takes the death toll from heavy rains over swaths of the country in the past two weeks to at least 12, as tens of thousands sheltered in evacuation centers.

President Marcos yesterday ordered disaster response officials to ensure they had sufficient stockpiles of food for the hardest-hit areas because “their situation is critical.”

Hard-scrabble neighborhoods near Manila Bay were badly affected, with most of the streets under water and more than 2,000 people forced to flee their homes.

About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the Philippines or its surrounding waters each year, damaging homes and infrastructure and killing hundreds of people.

State of calamity

Metro Manila has been placed under a state of calamity after heavy flooding submerged almost the entire metropolis.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos approved the proposed declaration of state of calamity in Metro Manila.

When Abalos announced he moved to approve the proposal for a state of calamity in Metro Manila, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Romando Artes said they seconded the motion.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is backing the declaration of a state of calamity in Metro Manila.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Franciso Marbil said the decision of the Metro Manila Council to place the region under a state of calamity would enable a more coordinated and efficient mobilization of resources in affected communities.

Marbil assured the public the PNP is committed to reinforcing its humanitarian assistance, evacuation procedures and overall response efforts.

At least 5,820 police officers were deployed as part of the PNP’s search and rescue teams in Metro Manila.

Impassable

The City of Manila has suffered eight to 19 inches deep floodwaters, making some major thoroughfares like Kalaw Avenue, Quirino Avenue, España Boulevard, Lagusnilad, Vito Cruz and parts of Taft Avenue not passable for light vehicles.

Quezon City also suffered flooding with G. Araneta Avenue and EDSA-Quezon Avenue Tunnel submerged in 45 inches and 37 inches of floods, respectively.

EDSA-Orense in Makati and parts of EDSA near Camp Aguinaldo also saw 19-inch deep floods, though declogging efforts by MMDA made the roads passable again.

Motorists – from motorcycle riders to drivers of passenger buses and trailer trucks – struggled to move after getting stuck in flooded areas particularly along España Boulevard, EDSA and Araneta Avenue, while some vehicles stalled.Commuters were left stranded, either waiting for public utility vehicles like buses and jeeps that waded through the floods or choosing to walk amid flooded streets.

The floods also affected the operations of various institutions in Metro Manila such as the Philippine General Hospital, the Supreme Court, Manila City Hall and the Senate.

Former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri shared with reporters a video of the floodwaters that rippled to the entrance gate as a vehicle passed by.

Manila Bay is the site of two reclamation projects, thus blocking the drainage of water to the sea, Zubiri told reporters on Viber.

In light of the floods, Senate President Francis Escudero announced work suspension at the Senate yesterday.

Several malls in Metro Manila closed early yesterday.

In Quezon City, at least 10 malls announced that they would close early even as they committed to providing shelter to those who need to wait out the inclement weather.

Araneta City in Cubao said Gateways 1 and 2, Ali Mall and Farmers Plaza closed early at 4 p.m.

“Ali Mall will remain open for those who wish to seek temporary shelter. Designated waiting areas and restrooms will be available for use, and overnight parking fees will be waived,” it added.

The SM Center in Congressional, SM Novaliches and the UP Town Center also closed at 4 p.m., while the Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, TriNoma and Fairview Terraces closed at 6 p.m.

Ayala Malls said designated waiting areas, restrooms and charging stations will remain accessible for mall-goers to wait out the storm in the comfort and safety of their malls.

Power interruption

Manila Electric Co. said as of 6 p.m., 643,761 households in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan and Quezon were affected by electricity outages, based on the firm’s assessment yesterday afternoon.

Heavy flooding across its service areas predominantly caused the power interruptions.

Meralco vice president and corporate communications head Joe Zaldarriaga assured the public that the firm is on top of the situation and its personnel are working “nonstop” to restore electrical services as soon as possible.

“We continue to ask for patience and understanding from those who are still affected by service interruptions. Our crews will immediately be deployed to restore power service once floods subside in the affected areas,” Zaldarriaga said.

Meralco reminded its customers to practice safety measures when using electrical devices and appliances amid the heavy flooding.

Evacuation

Quezon City has evacuated 9,630 families or a total of 31,581 individuals in 82 barangays.

Some 168 evacuation centers have been designated in the city, with the local government providing support to evacuees, including relief packs and hot meals.

The local government also declared class suspensions today.

Meanwhile, the city government of San Juan has evacuated 118 families or 559 individuals to San Juan Gym after their houses, which were located near the San Juan River, were hit by the chest-deep flood.

In Manila, some residents in a neighborhood in Damka Street, Sta. Mesa were rescued as their houses, which were near Pasig River, were submerged in seven-foot deep floodwater.

According to a report from the Manila Police District as of 6 p.m. yesterday, a total of 2,148 families or 7,046 individuals were evacuated from flooded neighborhoods in the city.

Meanwhile, the city government of Makati said at least 11 families are taking shelter at the Pio del Pilar Elementary School, 18 families at the Palanan Sports Complex and four families at the San Antonio Community Complex as of 4 p.m.

The local government distributed modular tents and food packs to the evacuees.

In Marikina City, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said in an interview with GMA News that around 3,000 residents were evacuated, fearing that the numbers may increase to 15,000 should the torrential rains continue.

The Southern Police District (SPD) activated its search and rescue teams yesterday as they are coordinating with local government units to ensure assistance to affected residents, including the deployment of rescue teams.

The SPD reported that it had identified 142 evacuation centers, 36 of which were occupied, affecting 929 families and 3,278 individuals as of 1 p.m.— AFP, Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas, Jose Rodel Clapano, Janvic Mateo, Emmanuel Tupas, Nillicent Bautista, Marc Jayson Cayabyab