More than 3,600 people remain in evacuation centers in Manila City after heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, caused flooding in several areas, the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) said Tuesday.
As of 9:30 a.m., August 18, 1,272 families or 3,619 individuals were staying in evacuation centers across the city.
More than 20 evacuation centers have been designated throughout Manila to accommodate residents displaced by the flooding.
Barangay 330 recorded one of the highest numbers of evacuees, with 777 individuals or 298 families currently staying at Regidor Elementary School.
(Photo courtesy: Manila PIO/Facebook)
The number of evacuees had reached 4,579 individuals as of 6 a.m.
According to the evacuees, they have yet to receive hygiene kits and sleeping kits.
Meanwhile, a coffin was also brought to Antonio Regidor Elementary School as floodwaters rose in Manila, according to a DZRH's report of RH Tina Nolasco.
A family in Sta. Cruz, Manila is facing double tragedy as they not only lost a loved one but also had to evacuate their home due to flooding.
“Malungkot po sa nangyari, may patay na, binaha pa,” a relative of the deceased said while the wake was being held at one of the evacuation centers.
Floodwaters rose above knee level in some parts of the city, forcing the family to continue holding the wake at the evacuation center.
The family was also unable to process the necessary documents and seek assistance for the funeral due to the ongoing calamity.
By 10:30 a.m., however, some flooding had subsided, prompting several evacuees to return to their homes.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recorded 201.7 millimeters of rainfall in Metro Manila within five hours on Monday, August 17.
The rainfall was significantly lower than the 455 millimeters recorded over a 24-hour period during Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, which triggered widespread and severe flooding across the metropolis.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had raised a Yellow Rainfall Warning over Metro Manila, indicating possible flooding in flood-prone areas.
PAGASA said the southwest monsoon is affecting Luzon and Visayas, bringing rain to large parts of the country, with heavier rainfall expected over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas, including Metro Manila.
Watch the related report below.
