Five dead, thousands affected in Habagat

Photo by Rappler

As of Sunday, Five people have been killed in the Philippines and tens of thousands have fled from floods caused by heavy rains.

According to civil defense officials, Manila and nearby provinces should expect more heavy  rains in the next few days. The officials warned residents to be prepared since as of press time, 24000 are in school and government buildings, taking refuge.


"We are expecting more low-lying areas to experience flooding," National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokeswoman Romina Marasigan said.

"Those who are already in evacuation centers should stay there until the weather improves," she added.

Among those who evacuated were 9,000 residents affected by the Marikina river flooding on Saturday, August 13.

The council said three Manila slum residents were crushed to death Saturday by walls that collapsed in the floods.

In Panay, a man drowned crossing a river on Wednesday. On Friday, a body was retrieved from a Manila canal, the cause of death is under investigation.

On Monday, August 8, a fisherman went missing in Marinduque, while a man was injured by falling rocks at a highway east of Manila on Friday.

In all, more than 70,000 people have had their houses swamped by floodwaters, the council said, though most residents opted not to leave their homes. MJM

Source: Rappler

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