MANILA, Philippine: Relentless rain drenched the northern Philippines on Wednesday as Typhoon Gaemi intensified the seasonal monsoon, triggering widespread flooding in Manila and deadly landslides in surrounding provinces. The typhoon, which is moving towards Taiwan, has caused extensive disruption and damage across the region.
In Manila, rescuers were deployed to help evacuate people from low-lying areas after torrential downpours turned streets into rivers. Residents waded through thigh-deep water, using small boats and shopping trolleys to navigate the flooded streets. Nora Clet, a local resident, described the severity of the flooding, stating, “The disturbance it caused is great. The waters reached the second floor of our house.” Restaurant employee Rex Morano noted that he was unable to work due to the “very high” floodwaters.
In response to the severe flooding, a state of calamity was declared in Manila, unlocking funds for relief efforts. Government offices were shut, classes were suspended, and over 100 domestic and international flights were cancelled. Additionally, tens of thousands of customers experienced power outages. Some shopping malls and churches opened their doors to provide temporary shelter to those affected by the floods.
Peachy de Leon, a disaster official in suburban Manila, highlighted the overwhelming number of rescue requests: “Many areas are flooded so we have rescuers deployed all over the city. There is an overwhelming number of people asking for help.” She noted that the heavy rain was unexpected, intensifying the need for urgent rescue operations.
The state weather forecaster reported that more than 200 millimeters (nearly eight inches) of rain fell in Manila in just 24 hours. Senior weather specialist Glaiza Escullar explained that the peak of the rainy season typically occurs in July and August, and the presence of Typhoon Gaemi in the eastern waters of the Philippines has enhanced the southwest monsoon rains. More heavy rain is expected on Thursday.
Landslides caused by the torrential rains claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and three children in Batangas province, south of Manila, and a woman and her five-year-old child in Pampanga province, north of the capital. In Benguet province, three major roads were blocked by landslides. These recent fatalities bring the death toll from heavy rains over the past two weeks to at least 14, with tens of thousands of people taking refuge in evacuation centers.
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President Ferdinand Marcos directed disaster response officials to ensure sufficient stockpiles of food for the hardest-hit areas, emphasizing that “their situation is critical.” Hard-scrabble neighborhoods near Manila Bay were particularly affected, with more than 2,000 people forced to flee their homes due to the flooding.
The Philippines, a country frequently hit by storms and typhoons, faces significant challenges from these natural disasters. Approximately 20 major storms and typhoons impact the Philippines or its surrounding waters each year, causing extensive damage to homes and infrastructure and resulting in numerous casualties. The ongoing crisis caused by Typhoon Gaemi highlights the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness and response to protect vulnerable communities.
