PLACED on red alert by weather and disaster officials since Monday night, Metro Manila turned into a “waterworld” on Tuesday as the southwest monsoon unleashed torrential rains nearly nonstop. A record rainfall of 10 to 30 mm per hour was recorded in the metropolis.
Government offices and classes on all levels, both public and private, were suspended in the National Capital Region. Malacañang also suspended work in private offices due to rains and heavy flooding that spared no city in Metro Manila.
As Tuesday deepened, the monsoon rains, enhanced by storm “Haikui” headed for China, and resulting floods spread over a wide swathe of Luzon.
It was worst flooding since 2009 when storm “Ondoy” devastated the country and killed hundreds people caught flatfooted by the unexpected heavy flooding.
Tuesday’s heavy rains caused dams and rivers to overflow, forcing residents to flee their homes. Local government units also undertook forced evacuations of residents in critical areas. But many families were stranded in their homes submerged in floodwaters.
Classes on all levels in the whole of Metro Manila and in other Luzon provinces on Wednesday have been suspended as the rains and floods have still to subside.
