Downpour triggers floods, hundreds flee

MANY areas in Metro Manila were flooded after the downpour that pounded the metropolis on Friday night until early yesterday but there were no reports of casualties.

Hundreds of people fled their flooded homes and schools in the University Belt canceled classes. At least 10 domestic flights were canceled.

“We have some areas still flooded in Pasig City like Pinagbuhatan, Dela Paz, and some areas of Quezon City like E. Rodriguez and Araneta Ave. We have areas in San Juan as well,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said.

Tolentino said that the MMDA deployed rescue teams to affected barangays and provided free rides to stranded commuters.

“We have rescue teams right now near the Sto. Domingo area. We have deployed libreng sakay vehicles in Taft Avenue as well as Espana this morning,” he told reporters.

In Quezon City, rescue teams were sent to Sto. Domingo, Brgy. Damayang Lagi, Brgy. Mariblo, and a portion of Araneta Avenue where waist-deep floodwaters were reported.

In San Juan City, around 100 families were taken to the San Juan Gym due to the floods. Authorities kept a close watch on the San Juan River which has reached the critical level.

The MMDA chief also attributed the flooding to the unfinished drainage works of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has downgraded its Rainfall Warning Signal in Metro Manila from red to yellow. Pagasa urged the public to remain vigilant because of the unpredictability of the weather.

Weather forecasters said that Typhoon Karen (international code-name Sanba), which is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility today, enhanced the southwest monsoon.

The weather bureau said that Karen continues to move toward southern Japan and will no longer directly affect any part of the archipelago.

“Karen will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring occasional moderate to heavy rains over Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Bicol, Calabarzon, Mimaropa. Residents in these areas are advised to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides,” Pagasa said.

“Typhoon [ Karen] has no direct effect, but the storm enhanced the southwestern monsoon so we will continue to experience rains,” meteorologist Gary de la Cruz said. He added that the country could continue to have heavy rains until Tuesday.

So far, Karen has caused only one fatality in the Philippines, a fisherman who ventured out to the sea on September 12 but whose dead body was recovered two days later, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. SAMMY MARTIN WITH REPORTS FROM

MARVS LIBRIL AND AFP