Typhoon Carina's fury unleashed on Manila metropolitan area: churches open for evacuees
Called Gaemi in neighbouring countries, the typhoon is now moving over Taiwan. At least 13 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced in the flooded area that coincides with large parts of the large suburbs of the Philippine capital. People are reported still waiting for rescue on rooftops. Prayers for the rains to stop.
Manila (AsiaNews) - The Philippines is on high alert for assistance to thousands of people affected by Typhoon Carina (called Gaemi in neighbouring countries) and the intensifying southwest monsoon, which has hit several areas of the Manila metropolitan area and other neighbouring regions on the island of Luzon and is now heading towards Taiwan.
Carina is the third tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2024 and the second for the month of July. Damage caused by the storm disrupted the Philippine transport system, causing flooding in parts of the National Capital Region and surrounding areas. President Marcos instructed the relevant government agencies to quickly assist those affected. Over 2.88 million pesos of aid has been allocated and 4,500 people are being mobilised for search, rescue and recovery operations.
Several churches in the Diocese of Novaliches have opened their doors as evacuation centres for those affected by Typhoon Carina, providing safe shelter and basic necessities. Caritas Novaliches is checking the areas most affected by the floods, in agreement with the parishes and local authorities to effectively manage the relief effort. Water has entered people's homes, but also many churches and other institutions. ‘We continue to pray that the heavy rains and floods will stop,’ reports April Baybayon, a catechist and religious teacher from the Cubao diocese, recounting that numerous people in the Gumamela area in the Barangay Roxas district of Quezon City are still waiting for relief on rooftops. Among them are children and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
"We help in any way we can. We pray for everyone's safety,' says Molina Benedictos, a volunteer working in the area. In some areas, reservoirs and dams are releasing water. The level of the Marikina River has reached an alarm level of 18.2 metres, triggering an evacuation. ‘May the precious blood of Christ cover all those affected by this incessant rain,’ Benedictos prays.
Even in the heart of Manila, the continuous rains of the southwest monsoon made the streets impassable for public transport, forcing commuters on their way to work to walk through the flooded streets along Taft Avenue. The Quezon City administration, based on the recommendation of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, suspended classes in schools of all grades and government offices throughout Manila. However, government agencies providing medical, disaster and emergency response and other essential services continue to operate.
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09/09/2017 13:19
