Half of Manila was under water and 250,000 people fled their homes on Tuesday as torrential rain paralyzed the city, sweeping away houses, stranded residents on rooftops and triggering a landslide, writes Phillippinnews.com
At least half of Manilla is flooded. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that more than 800,000 people had been affected, with 18,600 in government evacuation centres and some 231,000 seeking refuge with friends or relatives.
Tuesday’s deaths brought the number of people killed by the monsoon rains across the Philippines to 68 over the past week, according to civil defence officials.
Weather officials warn that the floods could get worse as the overflowing La Mesa dam, which holds back Manila’s main reservoir, spills more water.
There are no Scandinavians among the dead or injured by the floods, but the Norwegian Embassy has been hit by the floods. It will be closed to the public on Thursday August 9, and Consular and visa services have been temporarily suspended. For emergencies involving Norwegian citizens, the embassy suggests to call 02 9822700.
