Hundreds flee as heavy rain lashes capital

MANILA, Philippines – Parts of Metro Manila experienced up to almost 6 feet (1.8 meters) of floodwater on Saturday, September 15 after heavy rain lashed the capital overnight, forcing more than 400 people to flee their homes, officials said.

The predawn downpour triggered flash floods, rendering some roads impassable and forcing schools to suspend classes and rail services to be cancelled in parts of Metro Manila.

Traffic was snarles in many areas, particularly along the Skyway southbound section near Alabang, Muntinlupa City, and the commuter service of the Philippine National Railways was cancelled between 5 am and noon.

ALERT: Commuter service has resumed. CX125 (12:05) for Alabang left Tutuban. Next is CX127 (1:05), then CX129 (2:05), then every 30 mins.

— PNRailways (@PNRailways) September 15, 2012

There was also a strong typhoon lurking in the region, and although it was moving away from the Philippines and toward Japan, forecasters said it was adding to the wild weather.

“Typhoon (Karen, international codename Sanba) has no direct effect but the storm enhanced the southwestern monsoon so we will continue to experience rains,” said government meteorologist Gary de la Cruz.

Low-lying coastal areas of the capital were hardest hit, forcing people to leave their homes, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

At least 10 domestic flights were cancelled, the council said.

Weather bureau PAGASA issued a red alert flood warning at 4:30 am, followed by another one at 7:30 am. PAGASA then downgraded the alert to yellow and finally lifted it before noon.

ERRATUM: DATERED RAINFALL WARNING: Issued at:4:30AM, 15 September 2012 (Saturday)Target Areas: Whole Metro (cont) tl.gd/j9pjsj

— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) September 14, 2012

Although the heavy rain eased later in the day, De la Cruz said the Philippines could continue to suffer heavy downpours until Tuesday.

So far, Karen has caused only one fatality in the Philippines, a fisherman who ventured out to sea on September 12 but whose dead body was recovered two days later, the disaster management council said. – Rappler.com, with reports from Agence France-Presse