Today on Rappler.
- More than a million caught in deadly floods as parts of Metro Manila remain under water.
- The Southwest Monsoon dumping rain over Luzon is expected to weaken.
- Tragedy strikes landslide victims offered relocation by the government in 2003.
Story 1: MORE THAN 1-M BATTLE FLOODS; 20 DEAD
60 to 80% of Metro Manila is under water.
Flooding eased slightly Tuesday night, but rain poured relentlessly through the day Wednesday.
The country’s disaster response agency says 1.23 million people in and around the capital struggled with floods, with 850,000 people seeking help from rescue workers.
Nearly 250,000 are in schools, gymnasiums and other buildings that were turned into evacuation centers.
The worst hit parts of Manila are the poorest districts, where millions of slum dwellers built homes in areas susceptible to flood.
National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council head Benito Ramos says “The roads in some areas are like rivers. People have to use boats to move around.”
The death toll in Manila and nearby provinces rises to at least 20, including 9 people who died in a landslide.
As more rain falls, neck-deep waters trap both poor and rich on rooftops.
Some of Manila’s wealthiest areas were not spared, including the riverside community of Provident where the first floors of three-story mansions were flooded.
The Philippines endures about 20 major storms or typhoons each rainy season, many of which turn deadly.
Story 2: TROPICAL CYCLONE HAIKUI ENHANCING MONSOON IN PH
Better weather is coming soon for rain-soaked parts of Luzon as the Southwest Monsoon weakens slightly.
Tropical Cyclone Haikui moves nearer to Shanghai, China.
Haikui has been “enhancing” the monsoon rain in the Philippines, even if it is out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
In its 5 pm update, state weather bureau Pagasa says Luzon will experience occasional rain – more frequent over the western section, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.
The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
In its latest rain forecast, Pagasa says to expect torrential rainfall over Quezon City, Manila, and Marikina.
Heavy to intense rainfall over Pasig, CAMANAVA, Taguig, and Pasay, while moderate to heavy rainfall over the rest of Metro Manila.
Several barangays in Quezon City, Cainta, Marikina are still submerged in water.
Pagasa says the weather is expected to slightly improve before the weekend.
Story 3: 34 ROADS IN LUZON, VISAYAS INACCESSIBLE
34 national and minor roads in Luzon and Visayas are now inaccessible because of flashfloods and landslides brought by non-stop rain since Tuesday.
15 areas in Luzon are under a state of calamity.
These are Malabon, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Pasig, Pasay, Pateros, Navotas, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Laguna, Olongapo, Bulacan, Cainta, Rizal; and San Mateo, Rizal.
Story 4: P152-M AGRICULTURAL LOSSES FROM MONSOON, ‘GENER’
Two consecutive weather disturbances — typhoon “Gener” and the ongoing southwest monsoon — bring damage to agriculture at P152.13 million.
The Department of Agriculture says its assessment of damage in 20 of the 35 provinces shows the biggest estimated losses coming from the rice sector, followed by the corn sector, high value crops and fisheries.
“Gener” battered 35 provinces in Luzon and Visayas, bringing heavy rain and floods in major agricultural areas in Luzon.
Story 5: FAMILY WHO REFUSED TO RELOCATE DIES IN LANDSLIDE
The rain brought tragedy to 50 year old Jessie Baylon.
An informal settler, he built a home for his family of seven above their community in Fairview, Quezon City.
In 2003, a landslide cracked the cement of his home.
The government offered to relocate him, but he refused.
On Monday, continuous rain loosened the soil and two houses, including his, slid to the ground below.
Five of his family, including his wife, died in the rain.
Story 6: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 3, Iran weighs in on the Syrian crisis, publicly declaring support for President Bashar al-Assad, and saying the US is “warmongering.”
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warns countries sending “terrorist fighters” will not be tolerated.
Reports say Iran may be sending Islamist terrorist cells to support the Syrian Army.
World powers have yet to act in Syria but the US, France, Britain and Turkey express support for Syrian rebels and the opposition.
At number 5, The US Supreme Court issues the green light for the execution of Marvin Wilson, a Texas death row inmate whose lawyers have been trying to get off the death penalty on grounds that he is ineligible because of his low IQ.
WiIson was sentenced to death in 1992 for the murder of a 21-year old police informant.
His lawyers argue his IQ of 61 below the threshold of 70, suggests he is mentally impaired, but state lawyers claim his 2004 IQ test may have been faulty.
Wilson was executed by lethal injection Tuesday evening.
At number 8, Russian authorities beef up security after the US Embassy in Moscow warns of threats against Madonna’s upcoming St. Petersburg concert.
Madonna performed to a packed stadium in Moscow Tuesday, expressing support for a Russian punk-rock band whose members were jailed after performing a song that was critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The band members face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
And at number 10, Anne Hathaway and producer Harvey Weinstein play host to a 35-thousand dollar per person fundraiser for US President Barack Obama.
The duo’s efforts raised $2 Million dollars that will go to Obama’s re-election bid.
Hathaway has been a long-time supporter of Obama.
Obama praises the hollywood actress saying he saw the movie the Dark Knight Rises, and Hathaway’s “spectacular” performance as Catwoman was, in his words, “the best thing in it.”.
Story 7: ELTON JOHN CALLS MADONNA A ‘FAIRGROUND STRIPPER’
Elton John reignites his public spat with Madonna, calling her a “fairground stripper” whose career is over.
In an interview on Australian television, the British star says, “If Madonna has any common sense, she would have…stayed away from the dance stuff and just been a great pop singer.”
It is not the first time Elton John hits Madonna, saying her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes this year is “embarrassing.”
He says Madonna has been -quote- “so horrible” to pop diva Lady Gaga, the godmother to his son Zachary.
Story 8: ONLINE PERSON FINDER
Looking for family or friends that may have been stranded by floods? There’s an online tool for that.
It’s called Person Finder – designed to help people submit or search for information about loved ones who may have been affected by the Luzon floods.
Google’s crisis response team put up a similar one during the Ondoy and Pepeng floods.
The Person Finder can be accessed on Rappler.com
And, if you’re looking to donate for those affected by floods there’s an easy way to do it.
Check out this story on Rappler.com “Quick ways to donate.”
Story 9: FLOOD AND DISASTER RESPONSE MAP
Need information on flooded areas and shelter locations? This crowdsourced map by the Google Crisis Response Team lets you find a safe haven or help others in need.
The map includes 24-hour and 3-day accumulated rainfall data from the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Story 10: NY TIMES: MANILA ‘SAD’ BUT SPIRIT REMARKABLE
Floods may have made Manila’s mood meter sad but many residents are far from being helpless and panicky.
A blog on the New York Times notes that the floods caused little public anger over “further municipal dysfunction.”
It cites Rappler’s mood meter, which shows 71% “sad” because of the rain, followed by 17% afraid and 4% annoyed.
The blog says Filipino netizens show a “remarkable civic spirit” as they share news over social media.
Many Filipinos are active on social media.
In 2010, ComScore named the Philippines the social media capital of the world.
In times of disaster like Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, Filipinos use Facebook and Twitter to coordinate rescue and relief operations.
– Rappler.com
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