Metro floods strand thousands of commuters

source: gmanews

Widespread flooding in Metro Manila Thursday night stranded tens of thousands of students and workers struggling to go home as they faced knee-high or even higher waters in many neighborhoods.

Many street corners were gridlocked as vehicles searched for routes free of flooding.

Not only people were seeking dry space, as snakes escaping the floods could now be hiding in homes, disaster relief official Benito Ramos warned Friday morning.

After dumping monsoon rains on Metro Manila from Thursday afternoon until early Friday morning, Tropical Storm Falcon (Meari) slightly intensified further Friday morning, although state weather forecasters said the worst of the rains are over.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also said many parts of the country can expect improving weather as Falcon continues to move north. Classes in Albay resumed Friday.

"(Base sa) pinakita ng pag-ulan ngayon, mukhang lumipas na ang pinaka-worst ng pag-ulan (Based on the rains now, it appears the worst of the rain is over)," PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He said the "worst" of the rainfall in Metro Manila appeared to be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at 95 mm per hour.

But as from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, the rainfall was at 9 mm per hour.

But he advised fishermen in Luzon and Visayas not to venture out to sea yet because of the threat of gale-force winds.

Monsoon rains from Falcon fell on Metro Manila Thursday night, flooding several areas and forcing many families to evacuate their homes.

3 areas under Signal 1

At least three areas remained under Signal No. 1 as of 5 a.m. Friday — Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes.

While Quitlong said the worst of the rains appear over as Falcon moves away from Bicol and Central and Southern Luzon, he said rains are still to be expected.

"Maulan pa rin, pero habagat din ang nakakaapekto doon (It will still be rainy, but this is due to the monsoon)," he said.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, he said residents can expect "improving weather" as Falcon moves north.

"Ganoon din unti-unti na gaganda ang panahon doon (Expect the weather to gradually improve)," he said.

Flash floods, landslides in Luzon, Western Visayas

PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin added that Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes will have rains with gusty winds while the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Mindanao and the rest of Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, it added.

PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from northwest to southwest will prevail over the rest of northern Luzon and coming from the southwest to south over the rest of the country.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

Falcon expected out Sunday

Quitlong said Falcon is expected to exit Philippine territory by Sunday morning.

As of 4 a.m. Friday, Falcon was estimated at 370 km east-northeast of Tuguegarao City (Cagayan), with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

It was moving north northwest at 19 kph and is expected to be 330 km northeast of Basco, Batanes Saturday morning.

By Sunday morning it is expected to be 690 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes or at 270 km west northwest of Okinawa, Japan.

PAGASA reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal 1 against possible flash floods and landslides.

source: gmanews