MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Hundreds of people fled their homes today (Sept. 26) after overnight rains brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy flooded Metro Manila and areas in the northern Philippines.
Water was chest-deep in low-lying areas of the capital and part of nearby Rizal province, said Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesman.
"Warnings were given to local government units but the rains have not stopped since yesterday," Golez told ABS-CBN television.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who also heads the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said he had to take the commuter train to his office because the roads were too flooded to drive.
"This kind of flash floods in metro Manila took us all by surprise," he said, adding that flooding was also reported in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces north of Manila.
Swollen creeks forced many residents in some communities on to the roofs of their homes and they were calling for help to evacuate, according to local radio reports.
Television news footage showed one flooded road in suburban Quezon City appearing like a raging river.
The storm intensified the seasonal monsoon, drenching much of the main island of Luzon where Manila is located, weathermen said. A dozen flights in and out of central and northern Philippines were canceled because of poor visibility, airport officials said.
Power distributor Meralco cut off electric services to some flooded areas in metropolitan Manila to prevent accidents, spokesman Joel Zaldarriaga said.
Hundreds of vehicles stalled in flooded streets around the capital and nearly 2,000 passengers and more than 150 vehicles were stranded in ports in several provinces south of Manila after the coast guard suspended ferry operations.
Tropical Storm Ketsana packed 53 mph (85 kph) winds with gusts up to 100 kph when it made landfall early Saturday about 80 kilometers northeast of Manila. It was moving westward toward the rice producing Central Luzon region at 19 kph .
The rains have also caused the water in two dams near the capital to rise to spilling levels, the national disaster agency said.
"Warnings were given to local government units but the rains have not stopped since yesterday," Golez told ABS-CBN television.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who also heads the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said he had to take the commuter train to his office because the roads were too flooded to drive.
"This kind of flash floods in metro Manila took us all by surprise," he said, adding that flooding was also reported in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces north of Manila.
Swollen creeks forced many residents in some communities on to the roofs of their homes and they were calling for help to evacuate, according to local radio reports.
Television news footage showed one flooded road in suburban Quezon City appearing like a raging river.
The storm intensified the seasonal monsoon, drenching much of the main island of Luzon where Manila is located, weathermen said. A dozen flights in and out of central and northern Philippines were canceled because of poor visibility, airport officials said.
Power distributor Meralco cut off electric services to some flooded areas in metropolitan Manila to prevent accidents, spokesman Joel Zaldarriaga said.
Hundreds of vehicles stalled in flooded streets around the capital and nearly 2,000 passengers and more than 150 vehicles were stranded in ports in several provinces south of Manila after the coast guard suspended ferry operations.
Tropical Storm Ketsana packed 53 mph (85 kph) winds with gusts up to 100 kph when it made landfall early Saturday about 80 kilometers northeast of Manila. It was moving westward toward the rice producing Central Luzon region at 19 kph .
The rains have also caused the water in two dams near the capital to rise to spilling levels, the national disaster agency said.
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