Life in the Philippine capital came to a standstill on Tuesday as relentless rains triggered severe flooding, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes and leaving at least two people feared missing.
Overnight downpours caused the Marikina River to overflow, inundating low-lying communities and prompting emergency evacuations across Metro Manila, especially in Marikina, Quezon City, and Caloocan.
Schools and government offices were shuttered across the region as streets turned into rivers and rescue efforts intensified.
Authorities confirmed that more than 23,000 residents living near the Marikina River were evacuated overnight.
Another 25,000 evacuees were reported in Quezon and Caloocan, where floodwaters submerged entire neighborhoods.
“These communities are often located near creeks that feed into the river,” said Wilmer Tan, spokesperson for the Marikina rescue office. He noted the river swelled to an alarming 18 meters (59 feet)—well above the danger level.
In Caloocan, search-and-rescue teams are scrambling to locate an elderly woman and her driver who were swept away by a swollen creek while attempting to cross a bridge.
“Their car was recovered late last night with the windows broken,” said John Paul Nietes, assistant supervisor at the local emergency operations center. “It raises hope that they may have escaped before the vehicle was overtaken by water. But as of now, they are still missing.”
The deluge is part of the ongoing monsoon rains worsened by the tail effects of Tropical Storm Wipha, which brushed past the Philippines last Friday.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), at least three people have died and seven more are missing in the central and southern regions since the storm passed.
Although floodwaters in parts of Manila began to recede by Tuesday morning, thousands remain stranded in evacuation centers—many sheltering in schools, barangay halls, and covered courts.
READ ALSO: Fourth Major Typhoon Forces Mass Evacuations in Philippines
For residents like Avelina Lumangtad, a 61-year-old street sweeper in Manila, the rain brings fear and fatigue.
“This is hard, because if the rain continues… the river will swell,” she told AFP, standing ankle-deep in water.
“The floods are dangerous.”
The Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, hit by an average of 20 typhoons or storms each year.
Experts warn that climate change is fueling more intense and frequent weather events, making conditions increasingly perilous—particularly for the country’s poorest populations.
Local authorities are urging citizens in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant and adhere to evacuation advisories.
Relief operations are underway, but roads remain impassable in many places, slowing the delivery of aid.