- Title: PHILIPPINES: Floods swamp Manila and nearby provinces.
- Date: 8th August 2012
- Summary: FLOODED HOUSES ALONG RIVER FLOODED HOUSE FLOODED ALLEYWAY TRICYCLE DRIVER ROLANDO PONCILLAS PULLING MAKESHIFT CANOE WITH BELONGINGS
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines
- City:
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Disasters,Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA9GJYD3IGXZZB2ST2CVM1N9127
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Floods across Manila and nearby provinces force thousands to seek shelter and dampen residents' livelihood.
Heavy floods swamped Manila and nearby provinces on Wednesday (August 8), with many residents still seeking shelter in evacuation centres and unable to return to work.
Monsoon rains fuelled by tropical storm Haikui have weakened on Tuesday (August 7), as Haikui made landfall in southeastern China, but heavy showers were still expected.
Flooding that peaked on Tuesday (August 7) has killed 11 people, including three children.
More than 242,000 were forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in evacuation centres.
The flooding swelled rivers, and people living in coastal communities were advised to move to higher ground.
Flood waters reached three metres (10 feet) in the town of Cainta in Rizal Province, east of Manila, as a nearby river overflowed.
Most businesses in the province were paralysed and main roads remained impassible to vehicles.
Food vendor Dimson Macasinag had to walk along a 10-kilometre (6-mile) stretch to get to his stall.
"I couldn't find transportation, because the street is flooded and no cars were passing," Macasinag said.
More than 80 percent of Rizal province was under water and most of its residents were taking shelter inside covered basketball courts and public schools, officials said.
Evacuees complained of food and water shortages inside the shelters and town officials in Cainta say supplies including medicines could run out. Flooded roads have impeded the delivery of relief items.
Some residents opted to return to their homes hoping the floods had receded. Tricycle driver Rolando Poncillas was dismayed when he saw his house still swamped.
"I don't know how we can live. We can't cook food, or work in this situation," he said.
Schools around metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces remained closed on Tuesday, but government offices and businesses resumed operations.
The weather bureau has warned of flash floods and landslides, as more rains are expected especially in the northwest of the country.
The monsoon rains, which dumped about 300 mm (12 inches) or three times the daily average of 80-100 mm (3-4 inches) from late Monday to Tuesday (August 6-7), were the heaviest in three years, the weather bureau said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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