(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Heavy rains in the Philippine capital Manila and northern provinces caused flooding in many areas yesterday, shutting schools, government offices and financial markets as a tropical storm made landfall to the north.
At least four people were killed and tens of thousands of people fled their homes, officials said.
Nearly half a million people were affected, including more than 40,000 staying in emergency shelters in schools, churches or public gymnasiums, the Office of Civil Defence said.
Thousands of residents in low-lying areas were moved to higher ground, officials said, as flood waters rose quickly after the equivalent of half a month's usual rains fell in six hours.
The Philippine Stock Exchange suspended trade after the government cancelled work and classes in the capital. Trading at the electronic foreign exchange platform Philippine Dealing System was also suspended, with clearing and settlement cancelled for the day.
Fung-Wong, with maximum winds of 85kph and gusts of up to 100 kph, made landfall at about noon in the northern rice-producing region of Cagayan, said weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio. It was moving west northwest at 22kph towards the South China Sea and was expected to leave land by late yesterday, Aurelio said.
Civil aviation authorities said 40 domestic flights were cancelled and six international flights from Singapore, Thailand and China to Manila were diverted to other Philippine airports. Some flights were delayed.
Thousands of ferry passengers were stranded after services were cancelled and the coastguard stopped fishing boats from going to sea. More than 27,000 people were evacuated in Marikina City in the eastern part of the capital where a river burst its banks, said Del De Guzman, city mayor.
"We are on sweeping operations for those trapped by the floods. The rains were so heavy, so fast, some were not able to evacuate," De Guzman told GMA TV, adding the government was sending amphibious vehicles and boats to help get people out. Disaster agency officials said two other Manila districts were flooded and they were monitoring a dam, which was nearly full.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.