
Philippines flooding displaces thousands as new storm threatens
At least six people have died and another six remain missing after Tropical Storm Wipha skirted the country on Friday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Many neighbourhoods in Manila woke to find calf-deep pools of floodwater Tuesday after an overnight downpour swelled the Marikina River.
More than 23,000 people living along the riverbank were evacuated from their homes overnight and moved to schools, village halls and covered courtyards.
About 47,000 more were evacuated from across the capital's Quezon, Pasig and Caloocan areas, as well as from the main government district.
"Usually, these people are from low-lying areas like beside creeks," said Wilmer Tan of the Marikina rescue office, who said the river had reached 18 metres (59 feet) in height.
An elderly woman and her driver were swept down one of the swollen creeks as they attempted to cross a bridge in Caloocan, said John Paul Nietes, an emergency worker.
It was initially hoped that the pair had escaped after the car was recovered with a broken window.
But Caloocan Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan announced one of the bodies had been found.
"We've found (the driver)," he told Manila radio station DZMM.
"The body was recovered 4.5 kilometres from where the vehicle was swept away.... They were unable to bail out."
- No respite -
As floodwaters began receding in Manila by Tuesday afternoon, the national weather service said a low-pressure area off the country's east coast had developed into a tropical depression.
While not expected to make landfall, the depression would bring continued heavy rain through the end of the week, the agency said.
Thousands of people, meanwhile, remained unable to return to their homes.
AFP journalists in Cainta, a small town on the outskirts of the capital, saw residents using styrofoam boxes and abandoned refrigerators as makeshift floatation devices to navigate the floodwaters.
Angelo Dela Cruz, 18, employed a rubber boat -- one purchased in anticipation of frequent flooding -- to transport rice for his aunt's small eatery.
AFP | Ted ALJIBE
"Instead of using the van, we have to use the boat and push it while we wade through the flood to prevent the rice from getting wet," he said.
At least 20 storms or typhoons strike or come near the Philippines each year, with the country's poorest regions typically the hardest hit.
Deadly and destructive storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer because of climate change.
"This is hard, because if the rain will continue... the river will swell," Manila street sweeper Avelina Lumangtad, 61, told AFP as she stood next to a flooded thoroughfare.
"The floods are dangerous."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Eyewitness News
Couple gets married 'come hell or high water' in flooded church amid typhoon in the Philippines
We've all heard the phrase 'come hell or high water' and one couple in the Philippines proved they meant it literally on their wedding day. On Tuesday 22 July, Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar tied the knot in a flooded church after being together for a decade. The couple walked down the aisle of the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan province, despite ankle-deep floodwaters brought on by Typhoon Wipha. The typhoon had intensified seasonal monsoon rains, leading to widespread flooding across the region. Knowing the risk, Verdillo and Aguilar were undeterred. Rather than let the weather wash away their big day, they chose to embrace it. Photos from the event show Aguilar making her way down the aisle in a white wedding gown, the hem and train trailing in the murky water. Her groom, waiting at the altar, beamed as she approached. Guests who braved the storm placed their shoes on benches to keep them dry, determined to celebrate the love of two people who wouldn't let anything, not even a typhoon, stand in their way. 'We just mustered enough courage,' the couple told reporters. 'We've been together for 10 years. We know challenges won't stop here. This is just one of the struggles we've already overcome.' The newlyweds later shared their unforgettable wedding photos on Instagram and their story quickly went viral.


eNCA
6 days ago
- eNCA
Philippines flooding displaces thousands as new storm threatens
Heavy flooding inundated the Philippines' capital on Tuesday, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee and schools and government offices to shut, while a fresh storm brewed off the coast. At least six people have died and another six remain missing after Tropical Storm Wipha skirted the country on Friday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Many neighbourhoods in Manila woke to find calf-deep pools of floodwater Tuesday after an overnight downpour swelled the Marikina River. More than 23,000 people living along the riverbank were evacuated from their homes overnight and moved to schools, village halls and covered courtyards. About 47,000 more were evacuated from across the capital's Quezon, Pasig and Caloocan areas, as well as from the main government district. "Usually, these people are from low-lying areas like beside creeks," said Wilmer Tan of the Marikina rescue office, who said the river had reached 18 metres (59 feet) in height. An elderly woman and her driver were swept down one of the swollen creeks as they attempted to cross a bridge in Caloocan, said John Paul Nietes, an emergency worker. It was initially hoped that the pair had escaped after the car was recovered with a broken window. But Caloocan Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan announced one of the bodies had been found. "We've found (the driver)," he told Manila radio station DZMM. "The body was recovered 4.5 kilometres from where the vehicle was swept away.... They were unable to bail out." - No respite - As floodwaters began receding in Manila by Tuesday afternoon, the national weather service said a low-pressure area off the country's east coast had developed into a tropical depression. While not expected to make landfall, the depression would bring continued heavy rain through the end of the week, the agency said. Thousands of people, meanwhile, remained unable to return to their homes. AFP journalists in Cainta, a small town on the outskirts of the capital, saw residents using styrofoam boxes and abandoned refrigerators as makeshift floatation devices to navigate the floodwaters. Angelo Dela Cruz, 18, employed a rubber boat -- one purchased in anticipation of frequent flooding -- to transport rice for his aunt's small eatery. AFP | Ted ALJIBE "Instead of using the van, we have to use the boat and push it while we wade through the flood to prevent the rice from getting wet," he said. At least 20 storms or typhoons strike or come near the Philippines each year, with the country's poorest regions typically the hardest hit. Deadly and destructive storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer because of climate change. "This is hard, because if the rain will continue... the river will swell," Manila street sweeper Avelina Lumangtad, 61, told AFP as she stood next to a flooded thoroughfare. "The floods are dangerous."

TimesLIVE
20-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
Rains from Typhoon Wipha batter Hong Kong as it heads for mainland China
Rain pounded Hong Kong on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha skirted southwards, packing winds exceeding 167km/h, disrupting 400 flights and public transport, felling hundreds of trees, and damaging a construction site. Just after 4pm on Sunday, weather authorities lowered the typhoon signal in the Asian financial hub to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours, while more than 110mm of rain fell within three hours. Much of the rain concentrated on the northern region neighbouring the mainland, the city's observatory said, warning of more to come. In a statement, the government said 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals, while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported. In North Point near the city's harbour, large swathes of scaffolding were swept off a residential building and onto the road. As Wipha tracks westward across the South China Sea it is expected to make landfall later on Sunday between Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in the southern province of Guangdong, state-run broadcaster CCTV said. Authorities in neighbouring Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, also downgraded the typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe, public broadcaster TDM said. Hong Kong's airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon. Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all flights with Hong Kong airport between 5am and 6pm on Sunday. It waived ticket change fees and arranged for rebooking. Most public transport in Hong Kong was suspended, including ferries amid high sea swells.