Thousands Evacuated, Several Dead as Capital Grapples with Deluge

Manila experienced severe flooding on Tuesday, leading to widespread displacement and the closure of schools and government offices. The flooding affected tens of thousands of residents. Simultaneously, a new storm was developing offshore.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that at least six fatalities and six missing persons were linked to Tropical Storm Wipha, which had passed by the country on Friday.

Many areas of Manila were submerged in floodwater on Tuesday morning after heavy overnight rainfall caused the Marikina River to overflow. Over 23,000 people residing near the riverbank were evacuated overnight and relocated to temporary shelters.

Additional evacuations took place across the capital, including Quezon, Pasig, and Caloocan, as well as the main government district, bringing the total number of evacuees to approximately 70,000.

According to Wilmer Tan of the Marikina rescue office, the majority of those evacuated resided in low-lying areas near creeks. The Marikina River reached a height of 18 meters.

In Caloocan, an elderly woman and her driver were swept away while attempting to cross a bridge. Emergency worker John Paul Nietes reported the incident. Initially, there was hope that they had survived after their car was recovered. However, Caloocan Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan later confirmed that one of the bodies had been found, located several kilometers from where the vehicle was swept away.