7 of 10 SINKING; Waves flooded huge parts of Manila! Philippine floods persist, toll rises to 23! Some of the worst flooding has been in and around the Manila! Taiwan: Floods 5 killed, 2 missing!

[Stanislav]

Philippines SINKING:

/ Philippine floods persist, toll rises to 23. Rescuers deployed rubber boats while doctors fanned across cramped evacuation centres in the Philippines as the death toll from five days of flooding reached 23 on Thursday, officials said. Large farming towns north of the capital Manila as well as heavily populated coastal areas remained under waist deep flood waters, with television footage showing residents wading in muddy waters as they tried to seek safer shelters. "We are appealing for help from the national government. Our town hall itself is submerged in waist deep water," said mayor Orencio Gabriel of Obando town on government radio as intermittent rains continued to pound many areas. "We are all under water here," he said. But high sea tides on Thursday morning worsened the flooding by slowing down the flow of water into the bay, even as Typhoon Saola had already began bringing its fury northwards to Taiwan. Saola had caused tidal surges that swept over seawalls and flooded huge parts of Manila Wednesday, forcing schools to call off classes and flights to be grounded. /

/ Philippine floods worsen as death toll hits 14. Waves swept over seawalls and flooded shanty towns in the Philippine capital on Wednesday as the death toll from four days of storms that have battered large swathes of the country rose to 14. The death toll rose to 14 after four died in a landslide in the northern mountains late Tuesday, then two drowned Wednesday in a flooded marshland community about 1,100 kilometres (around 700 miles) to the south, the council said. The capital of Manila and nearby areas that are home to more than 15 million people saw some of the worst flooding. The district of Navotas, a tightly packed, fishing community of about 130,000 people along Manila Bay, was battered by huge waves, ravaging shanties built on the coast. The scenic Roxas Boulevard, a major coastal road beside Manila's historic bay and only a few kilometres from Navotas, was also flooded as storm surges smashed spectacularly over the seawall. Traffic had to be re-routed and the US embassy, located on Roxas Boulevard, shut down for the day due to knee-deep flooding. /

/ Some of the worst flooding has been in and around the capital, Manila. More than 150,000 people across the country have been forced from their homes. /

/ A state of calamity was declared in Navotas City on Wednesday following massive flooding that hit 10 barangays in the city. Barangays Tangos, San Roque, San Jose, Daang Hari, Sipac, Bangkulasi, Bagumbayan North, Bagumbayan South, Navotas West and North Bay Boulevard South remain submerged in floods because of heavy rains since Sunday. Water at the Malabon-Navotas River, which is part of the Tullahan River, also overflowed due to the rains. Several houses in Barangay Tangos, meanwhile, were damaged because of strong waves coming from Manila Bay. /

/ Hundreds of residents in Malabon and Navotas have been evacuated due to rising floods caused by continuous rains from Tropical Storm “Gener.” Radio reports said local residents were taken by surprise by the “unusually fast” rise of flood waters. The area is part of Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela), which is known for frequent floods whenever the high tide and rains occur simultaneously. /

/ Powerful storm surges caused flooding in Manila’s bay area, forcing the Senate to shut down for a second time this week and the US Embassy to cancel work at its chancery and suspend consular services. Flooding was reported in the cities of Navotas, Valenzuela and Malabon in Metro Manila; Dagupan City in Pangasinan; Pikit in North Cotabato; the five towns of Hagonoy, Calumpit, Paombong, Mecauayan and San Miguel in Bulacan; and 11 towns of Apalit, Bacolor, Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, San Simon, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Luis and Sasmuan in Pampanga. /

/ Flood enters US embassy. Floods entered the compound of the United States Embassy in Manila Wednesday morning due to strong waves from Manila Bay. /

Taiwan SINKING:

/ Flooding and landslides kill five and leave thousands homeless as typhoon batters Taiwan. Torrential rain caused flooding and landslides across Taiwan today - killing five people and injuring 15 as Typhoon Saola skirted the island's east and north coasts heading towards China. The military helped more than 1,000 people flee from the less-populated mountainous north and east of the island while main cities including the capital, Taipei, shut down as more than five feet of rain battered the country. /

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Philippines & Taiwan:

Navotas in state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines – A state of calamity was declared in Navotas City on Wednesday following massive flooding that hit 10 barangays in the city.

Barangays Tangos, San Roque, San Jose, Daang Hari, Sipac, Bangkulasi, Bagumbayan North, Bagumbayan South, Navotas West and North Bay Boulevard South remain submerged in floods because of heavy rains since Sunday.

Water at the Malabon-Navotas River, which is part of the Tullahan River, also overflowed due to the rains.

Several houses in Barangay Tangos, meanwhile, were damaged because of strong waves coming from Manila Bay.

More than 690 families have been ordered to evacuate and are not allowed to return to their homes until the flooding has subsided.

Authorities said the city has about P30 million in calamity fund to assist the affected families, who are now temporarily staying at nearby evacuation centers. -- Report from Dennis Datu, dzMM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/08/01/12/navotas-sta...

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Philippine floods worsen as death toll hits 14

Waves swept over seawalls and flooded shanty towns in the Philippine capital on Wednesday as the death toll from four days of storms that have battered large swathes of the country rose to 14.

More than 150,000 people across the Philippines have been forced to flee their homes this week as Typhoon Saolo, hovering to the north of the country, has added to monsoon weather, the national disaster management council said.

The death toll rose to 14 after four died in a landslide in the northern mountains late Tuesday, then two drowned Wednesday in a flooded marshland community about 1,100 kilometres (around 700 miles) to the south, the council said.

The capital of Manila and nearby areas that are home to more than 15 million people saw some of the worst flooding.

The district of Navotas, a tightly packed, fishing community of about 130,000 people along Manila Bay, was battered by huge waves, ravaging shanties built on the coast.

Navotas widow Gloria Alkaroke, 56, said she and her six children and grandchildren were forced to flee their wooden shack just as huge waves began to demolish it.

"I only saved a sack of my clothes but my cabinet, my cooking appliances, they were all washed out to sea. At least my children and grandchildren are okay. They were my first priority," she told AFP.

Dockworker Renaldo Abad, 15, said he punched a hole through the ceiling of his house and then made his way over the rooftops to avoid chest-deep floodwaters.

"I was hit by the waves carrying garbage and junk. They drenched me but fortunately, I was not hurt," Abad said at a school functioning as an evacuation centre.

Large military trucks helped people flee their homes in Navotas, while other residents used boats or improvised vessels made of scrap wood and styrofoam.

Navotas authorities said while there were no deaths reported, about 20 people were injured and more than 2,000 forced to seek shelter at evacuation centres.

The scenic Roxas Boulevard, a major coastal road beside Manila's historic bay and only a few kilometres from Navotas, was also flooded as storm surges smashed spectacularly over the seawall.

Traffic had to be re-routed and the US embassy, located on Roxas Boulevard, shut down for the day due to knee-deep flooding.

While Typhoon Saola is moving north away from the Philippines, it continues to affect the monsoon rains, which have been pouring on the country since Sunday, said civil defence chief Benito Ramos.

"We can expect more rains and the floods may get worse," he told AFP.

http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/philippine-floods-worsen-death-t...

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Residents in Malabon, Navotas evacuated due to flood

MANILA, Philippines—Hundreds of residents in Malabon and Navotas have been evacuated due to rising floods caused by continuous rains from Tropical Storm “Gener.”

Radio reports said local residents were taken by surprise by the “unusually fast” rise of flood waters.

The area is part of Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela), which is known for frequent floods whenever the high tide and rains occur simultaneously.

The local government of Malabon was said to have already deployed 6×6 trucks to aid in the evacuation.

At least 12 barangays in Malabon were already under knee-deep floods, reports said.

In Navotas, residents of at least three barangays have been evacuated.

Major roads in the areas remain closed to traffic due to the high water levels, reports said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/240709/residents-in-malabon-navotas-ev...

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Typhoon Saola kills 23 in Philippines

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) says the majority of the victims died from drowning, and some were killed by landslides and falling tree branches.

Some of the worst flooding has been in and around the capital, Manila.

More than 150,000 people across the country have been forced from their homes.

The head of the NDRRMC, Benito Ramos, told Radio Australia's Connect Asia there has been a huge coordination of resources to manage the clean-up.

"We already have the help of the armed services of the Philippines and the coast guard. The army are also helping clean up the mess caused by Typhoon Saola," he said.

Mr Ramos says it will take three to four days before the flood waters recede.

The typhoon has slammed into eastern Taiwan, making landfall near the coastal city of Hualien early Thursday.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-08-02/typhoon-s...

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Philippine floods persist, toll rises to 23

MANILA: Rescuers deployed rubber boats while doctors fanned across cramped evacuation centres in the Philippines as the death toll from five days of flooding reached 23 on Thursday, officials said.

Large farming towns north of the capital Manila as well as heavily populated coastal areas remained under waist deep flood waters, with television footage showing residents wading in muddy waters as they tried to seek safer shelters.

Health officials meanwhile raised the alarm over a possible outbreak of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease spread by infected rat urine in flood waters, saying this could lead to a further spike in the death toll.

"We are appealing for help from the national government. Our town hall itself is submerged in waist deep water," said mayor Orencio Gabriel of Obando town on government radio as intermittent rains continued to pound many areas.

"We are all under water here," he said.

Obando is a farming town of about 60,000 people 16 kilometres (10 miles) north of Manila where a major river system drains into Manila Bay.

But high sea tides on Thursday morning worsened the flooding by slowing down the flow of water into the bay, even as Typhoon Saola had already began bringing its fury northwards to Taiwan.

"People are living in dire situations in evacuation centres and disease outbreaks are what could push the toll even higher," warned Carmencita Banatin, head of the department of health's emergency management unit.

"We have rushed medicines and doctors to evacuation centres to begin immunising and stave off any explosion of diseases," she told AFP.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Manila said nine more people were killed due to drowning and other accidents related to Typhoon Saola, raising the toll to 23 overnight.

Saola had caused tidal surges that swept over seawalls and flooded huge parts of Manila Wednesday, forcing schools to call off classes and flights to be grounded.

Close to 180,000 people had been evacuated from 90 towns and 22 cities, many of them crowding each other in school gyms converted into temporary shelters.

Banatin said said health workers were expecting an outbreak of leptospirosis, which has an incubation of about a week.

The worst outbreak of the disease occurred in Manila in 2009, when a major storm submerged more than 80 percent of the city of 15 million.

Of the more than 3,300 cases of leptospirosis cases recorded then, 249 died, making it the biggest casualty figure for the disease in the world so far, according to government and World Health Organization figures.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1217376...

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‘Gener’ exits Philippines Thursday, leaves 14 people dead

Typhoon “Gener” blew slowly out of the Philippines Wednesday, leaving 14 people dead, 4,600 others in evacuation centers, and P2.1 million in damage to infrastructure.

Moving at 7 kilometers per hour, Gener headed toward Taiwan and Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, inducing the southwest monsoon to dump rain over Luzon and the Western Visayas, the state weather bureau said.

A night of heavy rains on Tuesday caused flooding in cities on the rim of Manila Bay in the National Capital Region, leading to the declaration of a state of calamity in Navotas City Wednesday.

Powerful storm surges caused flooding in Manila’s bay area, forcing the Senate to shut down for a second time this week and the US Embassy to cancel work at its chancery and suspend consular services.

In distant north

As of 4 p.m., the typhoon’s eye was spotted 380 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes province, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gusts of 160 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The typhoon was moving north-northwest at 15 kph, twice as fast as its movement reported earlier in the day, Pagasa said.

As Gener lingered, Pagasa reported spotting in the morning a low pressure area 360 km west-northwest of Basco. By afternoon, however, the low pressure had dissipated, absorbed in the southwest monsoon flow, Pagasa said.

Pagasa placed the Philippines’ northernmost groups of islands—Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan—under Storm Signal No. 2 and raised Signal No. 1 over the rest of Cagayan and Apayao provinces.

Pagasa said Gener would continue to strengthen the southwest monsoon, which had been bringing rains and moderate to strong winds over Luzon, including Metro Manila, and Western Visayas, since late last week.

The typhoon would continue pouring heavy to torrential rain, or from 10 mm to 35 mm of rainfall per hour, on areas of the country under its 700-km cloud diameter, Pagasa said.

Out on Friday

Pagasa said Gener was now expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility this afternoon when its eye reached 580 km north-northwest of Basco, or 80 km northwest of Taipei in Taiwan.

Earlier Wednesday, Pagasa said the typhoon might leave Friday afternoon, but adjusted the forecast in the evening.

By Thursday morning, Gener would have moved out to 400 km north-northeast of Basco, Pagasa said.

The weather bureau reiterated its warning to residents of  low-lying and mountainous areas to the dangers of flash floods and landslides.

Likewise, those living in coastal areas under Storm Signal No. 2 were alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by the typhoon.

Death toll

Executive Director Benito Ramos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday that the death toll had reached 14, the latest ones reported in Maguindanao.

Laga Gani Toni, 38, and her year-old son, Datu Toni Jr., drowned when their banca capsized in  Tamontaka River in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao province, yesterday morning, Ramos said.

Four people drowned in Zamboanga del Norte province and two others died in a landslide in Benguet province, Ramos said.

In Laguna province, a man was killed when a coconut tree brought down by strong winds fell on him, while in Romblon province a woman died after being hit a falling tree branch.

Ramos said a man was electrocuted in Bacoor, Cavite; another man drowned in waters off Rosario, in the same province; and a man from Laguna died when a ferry ran aground in Romblon.

Ramos said government search teams were looking for four missing fishermen in Mindoro province, while 129 other people had been rescued.

“Five were reported injured, including two persons who were riding a motorcycle when a landslide struck  in the vicinity of Hingyon in Ifugao province,” Ramos said.

Damage report

The NDRRMC said the typhoon left P2,130,230 in damage to infrastructure and crops, including  P1.1 million worth of corn and P893,320 worth of palay in Cagayan province.

The council said 4,619 people were in 32 evacuation centers in 25 provinces across the country. The typhoon totally damaged 379 houses and partially damaged 1,000 others.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it set aside P39.04 million for relief.

Flooding was reported in the cities of Navotas, Valenzuela and Malabon in Metro Manila; Dagupan City in Pangasinan; Pikit in North Cotabato; the five towns of Hagonoy, Calumpit, Paombong, Mecauayan and San Miguel in Bulacan; and 11 towns of Apalit, Bacolor, Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, San Simon, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Luis and Sasmuan in Pampanga.

Classes were also suspended Wednesday in all levels in Obando, Bulacan, and nine schools in Valenzuela.

US Embassy shut

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile ordered work suspended at 2 p.m., giving Senate employees a lead of three hours to beat the evening rush hour.

In a statement posted on its website, the US Embassy said work and services at its compound by the Manila Bay were suspended for the safety of personnel and people lined up outside for visa and other consular appointments.

Other US Embassy offices in drier parts of Roxas Boulevard, including the US Veterans Affairs Office, continued operations, Tina Malone, embassy spokesperson, said.

The consular services office will get in touch in the coming few days with those whose appointments Wednesday were canceled, Malone said.

Malone said the embassy operations were called off not because of the situation inside the offices but “mainly because of what’s going on outside the embassy.”

“There are people lined up outside and they are standing in floodwaters up to their knees, and we don’t want that,” Malone said.

State of calamity

In Navotas City, the Tullahan River topped its banks, worsening floods caused by surges from Manila Bay and forcing the declaration of a state of calamity.

The floods, up to waist-deep in some parts of the city, forced the evacuation of nearly 700 families from nine barangays in Navotas and another 400 in 12 barangays in neighboring Malabon City.

Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco said the city’s malfunctioning flood-control systems worsened the flooding.
 
“The floods were caused by water spilling in from Manila Bay, similar to the storm surge that happened last year during Typhoon ‘Pedring,’” Tiangco said in a statement.

The flooding shut down schools in the city.

Storm surges damaged 100 houses and forced hundreds of families from their homes in four coastal towns in Cavite province.

Governor Juanito Victor Remulla said the surges began to hit at 8:20 a.m. Wednesday in Naic, Noveleta and Ternate towns and Cavite City.
 
“The waves were as high as 1.4 meters, thrice the normal height of waves [in those areas],” Remulla said.

The cities of Cavite and Bacoor and the towns of Ternate, Naic, Tanza, Kawit, Rosario and Noveleta remained under a state of calamity due to flooding.

River watched

In Rizal province, authorities were watching Marikina River, which had swelled to alarming levels. Authorities began to evacuate residents of San Mateo and Rodriguez towns whose homes were threatened by flooding.

In the villages of Burgos and Rosario in Rodriguez town, 309 families voluntarily left their homes at 9 a.m. as the river threatened to overflow its banks.

“The critical level [of Marikina River] is 21 meters, but as soon as it hits 20 meters we are implementing forced evacuation [for the remaining residents], said Vicente Tomazar, director of the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Battered north

Up north, Baguio City was battered by heavy rains for a second day Wednesday. Strong winds cut electricity in most parts of the city and nearby towns, forcing school shutdowns at all levels.

At least 30 people from six families were evacuated in La Trinidad, Benguet, due to the threat of landslides.

Strong winds toppled trees and electric posts and snapped power lines, cutting power in Baguio City and some villages in the towns of La Trinidad, Tublay, Itogon and Kibungan.

Most roads to Baguio were open Wednesday, including Kennon Road, which was closed for clearing on Tuesday.

In Benguet, the Shilan-Beckel Road and the Gakian section of the Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun Road were shut due to landslides.

In Mountain Province, landslides closed the Calacaban and Balawa sections of the Mountain Province-Ilocos Sur Road and the Latang section of the Mountain Province-Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road.

In Central Luzon, at least 147 villages in 12 towns in Pampanga were flooded caused by high tide and heavy rains.

The flooded villages were in Guagua, Lubao, Sasmuan, Bacolor, Santa Ana, Apalit, Candaba, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Ramon and San Luis.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said damage to agriculture was initially estimated at P6.7 million.

In the Visayas, a woman died when a 50-year-old tamarind tree fell on an eatery in Iloilo City on Tuesday. Five other people were injured and taken to different hospitals.

Fishermen rescued

The Coast Guard in Cebu province reported the rescue of 27 fishermen and the Coast Guard in Antique province reported the rescue of 22 fishermen in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday.

Stormy weather forced the Coast Guard in Cebu to bar the departure of all ferries bound for different destinations in the Visayas Wednesday.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Visayas reported that flooding affected 2,236 families, or 9,606 people, in the region as of Wednesday.

Strong winds and big waves destroyed 139 houses and damaged 1,365 others, the OCD said. With reports from Nathaniel R. Melican, Tarra Quismundo, Cathy Yamsuan and Jamie Marie Elona in Metro Manila; Vincent Cabreza, Frank Cimatu and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon; Tonette Orejas and Greg Refraccion, Inquirer Central Luzon; Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Nestor Burgos Jr., Jani Arnaiz, Joey Gabieta and Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/241085/gener-exits-philippines-thursda...

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Flooding and landslides kill five and leave thousands homeless as typhoon batters Taiwan

Torrential rain caused flooding and landslides across Taiwan today - killing five people and injuring 15 as Typhoon Saola skirted the island's east and north coasts heading towards China.

The military helped more than 1,000 people flee from the less-populated mountainous north and east of the island while main cities including the capital, Taipei, shut down as more than five feet of rain battered the country.

Normally busy streets in the capital were deserted except for cleanup crews clearing off trees and branches felled by the storm overnight. The Defense Ministry mobilized 48,000 soldiers to help mitigate the storm's impact.

Earlier in the day in the northeastern county of Ilan, rescuers were using rubber boats and amphibious vehicles to help hundreds escape flooded homes.

They were also seeking to locate at least six stranded residents, cut off from the rest of their farming community when flood waters overwhelmed a small bridge.

About 100 domestic and international flights were cancelled, train services disrupted with schools, shops and roads were closed.

The National Fire Agency said that five people had been killed, including a policeman who drowned in a swollen river, and 15 others injured. Two people are still missing.

The typhoon left at least 26 people dead in the Philippines and forced 180,000 to flee their homes in the capital, Manila, and 27 central and northern provinces.

Coast guard and other disaster-response groups rescued 125 people from stricken sea vessels and flooded villages, according to Benito Ramos, who heads the government's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Saola briefly made landfall on Taiwan's east coast early this morning before weakening to a tropical storm as it turned back out to sea, moving northwest, skirting the island's north coast and heading for China.

Authorities there have issued warnings for it and a separate storm, Typhoon Damrey, which is expected to pass north of China's financial hub of Shanghai on Friday but which is also expected to weaken to a tropical storm.

China's meteorological agency issued typhoon warnings on Thursday for the southern and eastern provinces of Fujian and Jiangsu.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has told authorities to be on the highest alert.

Wen, who usually leaves more junior leaders to oversee arrangements before storms, told authorities to step up preparations and 'put people's lives first', the official Xinhua news agency said.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2182608/Typhoon-Saola-Flood...

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Flood enters US embassy

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Floods entered the compound of the United States Embassy in Manila Wednesday morning due to strong waves from Manila Bay.

Work was suspended in the embassy as operations were disrupted by the flooding. All employees were told to go home.

In its official Twitter account, the US Embassy said it “will be closed today due to flooding. The Consular Section will reschedule missed visa interviews.”

Both lanes of Roxas Boulevard from T.M. Kalaw Avenue until Quirino Avenue were closed due to floods. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) assigned personnel in the area to warn motorists about the floods.

The floods also caused heavy traffic in the city’s Ermita and Malate districts.

Motorists from Manila were advised to take U.N. Avenue, M.H. Del Pilar or Taft Avenue while those coming from the south were urged to pass through Mabini.

The floods eventually receded around lunch time, and Roxas Boulevard was reopened to traffic in the afternoon.– with reports from Noel Alamar, dzMM; Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/08/01/12/flood-enter...

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