Downpour paralyzes traffic on EDSA

MANILA, Philippines - A sudden afternoon downpour yesterday crippled traffic along EDSA, forcing the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to advise motorists to take the C-5 Road instead.

According to the MMDA’s Metrobase, the downpour – which started at around 3 p.m. – caused some flooding along EDSA, particularly at the P. Tuazon underpass in Cubao, Quezon City.

The Metrobase said flooding at the underpass made it impassable for light vehicles.

In its Twitter posts, the MMDA said the floodwaters ranged from 10 to 15 centimeters deep in Quezon City and Mandaluyong to 20 to 25 cm in Makati City.

The MMDA added that flooding was around 10 to 15 cm deep at the EDSA Shrine at the corner of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA.

Aside from the P. Tuazon underpass, floodwaters were around 10 to 15 cm deep at the Aurora Tunnel (southbound), Aurora Boulevard-Katinka (eastbound), and at the Commonwealth-Balara (northbound) area.

The MMDA also reported that the flood was 20 to 25 cm deep at the Magallanes Tunnel in Makati City. Aside from the sudden flooding in EDSA and other major streets, traffic also slowed to a crawl since the rain caused poor visibility for motorists.

According to the Metrobase, as of 5 p.m. yesterday, most of the flooded streets have become passable with the P. Tuazon underpass flooded up to 10 to 15 cm deep.