Tropical Storm Ketsana leaves Metro Manila Devastated
Nearly a week after being struck by tropical storm KETSANA, the situation in Metro Manila remains desperate, especially as super typhoon PARMA threatens to make landfall in Northern Luzon on Friday night. The rainfall brought by the storm was the heaviest to strike the Philippines in 42 years. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomic Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that 455 millimeters of rain fell on the metropolis from the morning of September 26 to the morning of September 27, surpassing the average rainfall of 391 millimeters for the whole month of September in just 24 hours. The downpour spawned floods which inundated many parts of the city with water up to 6 meters high. Parts of the city are still under water, particularly in Marikina, one of the hardest hit areas. Metro Manila and 25 other provinces have been placed under a state of calamity.
As of today, the official death toll stands at 293, with almost 3.1 million individuals affected. The damage to property, including public infrastructure and school buildings, is estimated at PhP1.9 billion (US$40 million), while the damage to agriculture stands at PhP3.2 billion (US$68 million) (National Disaster Coordination Council – www.ndcc.gov.ph. ). Relief operations are currently underway, as thousands affected by the flooding still have no access to food and potable water. It is feared that the situation may be made worse by the impact of the stronger typhoon, Parma which may bring more rain to an already saturated area. The authorities have indicated that several dams have reached or are near their capacity and extra rainfall will require releasing the overflow of water. The national and local governments have been overwhelmed by the impacts and there is a realization that neither these institutions nor the citizenry were prepared for such an extreme event.
Several staff members of the EMI Secretariat are also among the victims of the recent typhoon, their homes either partially damaged or completely submerged by flood waters.
As of today, the official death toll stands at 293, with almost 3.1 million individuals affected. The damage to property, including public infrastructure and school buildings, is estimated at PhP1.9 billion (US$40 million), while the damage to agriculture stands at PhP3.2 billion (US$68 million) (National Disaster Coordination Council – www.ndcc.gov.ph. ). Relief operations are currently underway, as thousands affected by the flooding still have no access to food and potable water. It is feared that the situation may be made worse by the impact of the stronger typhoon, Parma which may bring more rain to an already saturated area. The authorities have indicated that several dams have reached or are near their capacity and extra rainfall will require releasing the overflow of water. The national and local governments have been overwhelmed by the impacts and there is a realization that neither these institutions nor the citizenry were prepared for such an extreme event.
Several staff members of the EMI Secretariat are also among the victims of the recent typhoon, their homes either partially damaged or completely submerged by flood waters.
