Once again Metro Manila and the Philippines is hit by a disaster. Torrential rains have battered the megacity and floodwaters have poured in from almost all sides. A state of emergency was declared in and around Manila.
More than 50 were reported dead due to the combination of intense storms, monsoon rains and flooding, and at least 250,000 were evacuated, officials said. A landslide in the district of Quezon City killed nine people, including three children.
The flooding is the worst to hit the area since two storms in 2009 killed more than 900 people.
Manila is particularly vulnerable to flooding. The metropolitan area, which has a population of more than 14 million, sits in a low-lying area between a large lake and the ocean. The lake, Laguna de Bay, at the south of the city, drains to the ocean via the Pasig River, which runs through the center of town. The lake and the river are heavily silted and prone to overflowing their banks.
Star of Hope's school in Taytay, Rizal is in almost waist high water on Wednesday. The classrooms on the ground floor are flooded. Staff has moved books and expensive equipment to the second floor.
In some areas in Taytay, the water has reached the second floor Wednesday. Living in the area are 2 500 children attending the Star of Hope School. No reports of injured children yet but many sponsored children's houses are under water.
Pictures by Norman Coruna from Tuesday at Star of Hope School. More information soon. Internet and phone service is very poor at the moment! I wish I could be there to help out.