INTENSE RAINS POUND METRO MANILA, LUZON
Pagasa says ‘Karding’ had already left PAR, but continues to enhance southwest monsoon
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) went on red alert Sunday, Aug. 12, as intense southwest monsoon rains continued to pound Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
As of 3 p.m. Sunday, weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) continued to raise the orange warning level over Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal. Orange means intense rains threaten flooding in these areas.
Yellow warning, for heavy rains, is up over the provinces of Cavite, Quezon, Zambales and Bataan. Light to moderate rains persist in Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Laguna.
As of 8 a.m. Sunday, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said a total of 6,616 families of 34,426 individuals evacuated due to severe flooding.
He said most of the affected areas were in the northern part of Metro Manila, particularly the Camanava area, and the eastern part particularly Marikina City, where severe flooding was experienced as the water level of the Marikina River continued to rise.
On Saturday night, Marikina City raised the 3rd alarm as the water level reached 20.4 meters. This means all residents in low-lying areas were required to evacuate. The water level receded to 16.1 meters as of 12:15 p.m. Sunday.
Under a red alert status, NDRRMC operations alert teams are required to be on duty 24/7 to ensure continuous coordination with other concerned government agencies involved in emergency and calamity response.
The agencies concerned include Pagasa, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government units.
Eleazar said there is no longer any report of stranded persons or motorists on the streets in the metro. Several vehicles were stranded in several areas due to flooded streets Saturday.