Monday floods hit Metro, other areas

MANILA, Philippines (5th Update) – MANILA, Philippines – Continuous rain Monday night, August 6, caused flood in low-lying areas in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, forcing residents to move to higher ground and stranding commuters.

Government has suspended classes and government work in Metro Manila and 9 other provinces.

Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon also experienced moderate to heavy rain as of 11.50 pm, the state weather agency said. Central and Northern Luzon provinces such as Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan likewise experienced moderate to heavy rain.

The towns of Sasmuan and Lubao in Pampanga as well as Hagonoy, Calumpit, Obando, Meycauayan in Bulacan were affected by floods, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Pagasa said shortly past 11 p.m. Monday that it expected the rain in Metro Manila to last for 4 more hours, warning of more flooding.

Residents in low-lying areas in Barangays Sto Domingo, Talayan and Roxas District in Quezon City have been evacuated to safer ground, according to local officials. Cainta Mayor Mon Ilagan said at least 150 families have likewise left their homes in 4 areas in the city.

As of 11.35 p.m., the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) declared Quezon Avenue-Araneta Road not passable to all types of vehicle.

The La Mesa water dam, meanwhile overflowed anew Monday night, following non-stop rain.

As of 2am, Tuesday, August 7, the water level at La Mesa Dam was at 80.33m, reaching spilling level of 80.15 meters at 7pm on Monday, the second time in the last 24 hours. The dam also reached spilling level at 2am today. La Mesa Dam management will release water into the Tullahan River – affected areas will be portions of Fairview, Valenzuela, Navotas, Quezon City and Malabon. 

The La Mesa dam is part of a system that supplies water to Metro Manila areas. The water that flows down the spillway goes to the Tullahan river and eventually empty into Manila bay.

Red warning

As of 4:30am, Pagasa raised the Red Warning Signal over Metro Manila with heavy to intense rainfall expected over Metro Manila expected to continue for the next 2 hours (until 6:30am). Heavy to intense rainfall should also be expected over the CAMANAVA, Novaliches and Meycauayan Bulacan between 5am to 7am. An accumulated rainfall of 83.55 was recorded in Quezon City and 63.5mm over Manila was recorded from 6-9pm Monday. Pagasa warns of flooding in low lying areas and those located near river channels including Cainta and Antipolo.

as of 10pm, heavy rains was observed over Cainta. it is most likely to continue 4 d next hr. possible flooding is expected.

— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) August 6, 2012

as of 10pm, heavy to intense rainfall was observed over Antipolo. it is expected to continue for the next hr. serious flooding is expected.

— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) August 6, 2012

MARIKINA RIVER

Nonstop rains are also affecting the water levels at the Marikina River. As of 5:20am, August 7, the water Level of the Marikina River was at 18.0 meters above sea level, and was raised to critical level. All gates of the Manggahan floodway are open and forced evacuation is underway.   

ABISO MARIKENYO> As of 5:20 am, water level of #Marikina River is 18 meters. Critical level – Forced evacuation. Be safe everyone.

— PIO Marikina (@MarikinaPIO) August 6, 2012

SUSPENSION OF CLASSES & WORK 

At 1:30am, Malacañang suspended classes in college the NCR and 9 other provinces including Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan. Local government units also announced suspension of classes from preschool to highschool. For the full list refer to Rappler’s class suspension list for August 7, 2012.

 

– Rappler.com 

For more weather updates, visit the #WeatherAlert Microsite.

Everyone is encouraged to help out. Check this list of evacuation centers and relief operations in Metro Manila for places near you. 

If you have photos you’d like to share, send them to us @rapplerdotcom on Twitter, or send them via email to desk@rappler.com.

 

More in #WeatherAlert:

• PHOTOS: PH capital, nearby cities at a standstill in floods
• Filipino values emerge in deluge
• 4 areas in Luzon under state of calamity
• Flooding in Laguna may last 2 months – DPWH
• Southwest monsoon causing heavy rain over Luzon
• 20,000 displaced in Metro Manila floods