The government on Wednesday declared a state of calamity in Metro Manila, the country’s capital and economic hub, in response to widespread flooding caused by intense rainfall from Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon.
The torrential rains inundated large areas of Metro Manila, transforming major thoroughfares into impassable rivers and displacing hundreds of families who sought refuge in evacuation centers. Swollen rivers and high tide in Manila Bay exacerbated the flooding crisis, affecting not only Metro Manila but also several areas across Luzon and the Visayas.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has mobilized the Office of the Civil Defense and other government agencies to expedite relief efforts, particularly in areas still inaccessible due to floods. “That’s where we’ll focus our attention para the moment na bumaba ‘yung tubig, maging passable ‘yung daan, makapunta na sila kaagad,” President Marcos stated during a briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that 45,328 families have been affected across Luzon and the Visayas by the flooding.
The impact of Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon has been profound, leading to the cancellation of more than 140 domestic and international flights. Financial markets were closed, and classes and work government offices were suspended as the nation grappled with power outages affecting hundreds of areas and the release of excess water from a couple of dams.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Typhoon Carina has intensified into a Super Typhoon with sustained winds of 180 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 230 kilometers per hour. As it heads towards Taiwan, Carina continues to enhance the Southwest Monsoon, which dumped over 207 millimeters of rain in just six hours, significantly impacting the region.
The mean annual rainfall in the Philippines varies from 965 to 4,064 milliliters.
The declaration of a state of calamity enables the government to access emergency funds swiftly to address the aftermath of the typhoon and the ongoing monsoonal effects.
In the face of this disaster, Filipinos are coming together to support those affected, demonstrating resilience and solidarity amidst the challenges posed by Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon.
Video footage on television and social media platforms have shown cars floating and people wading in waist-deep water as well as harried rescue teams and people moving into evacuation centers.
