MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered government agencies to speed up aid for people affected by Hurricane Famco after the storm killed at least two people and caused the worst flooding in the capital Manila in years
Floods inundated tens of thousands of homes in low-lying suburbs, forcing residents to scramble on rooftops to await rescue
Famco, the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, struck a nation still reeling from Goni, the world’s strongest typhoon this year killing 25 people and destroying thousands of homes in early November
“Rest assured, the government will not leave anyone behind,” Duterte said in a patriotic speech, pledging to provide shelter, relief items, financial aid and counseling after disasters
The latest typhoon, which also left four unaccounted for, comes as the Philippines continues to grapple with a wave of COVID-19 infections and an overwhelming economy
« There are only a few steps left on the third floor and we haven’t seen any rescuers yet, » Pasij city resident Karla Mahayi Sueku, while sheltering with 15 family members and neighbors, told DZBB
The mayor of the city, Marcelino Teodoro, told DZMM radio station that approximately 40000 homes were either completely or partially flooded, either completely or partially, describing the situation as « overwhelming » and the worst since the hurricane flooded large areas of Manila in 2009
Nearly three million households in and around Manila were without electricity as people were battling waist-high floods and carrying valuables and pets.
The coast guard had to swim in flood waters like electric poles, while rescue workers used inflatable boats and makeshift buoys to transport children and the elderly to safety
Flights and mass transit have been suspended in Manila while the Coast Guard suspended port operations, government action has been suspended, and financial markets closed.
FAMCO has now weakened, with winds continuing at 130 kilometers (81 miles) per hour and winds up to 160 kilometers per hour (99 miles per hour) after exiting Luzon, home to half of the Philippines’ population of 108 million
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, experiences about 20 tropical storms annually that often continue their course to hit Vietnam, China and Taiwan.
FAMCO is expected to head towards Vietnam. Flooding and mudslides over the past month have killed at least 160 people in central Vietnam, missing dozens and damaged 390,000 homes
Report by Neil Jerome Morales (Covered by Eloisa Lopez and Enrico Dela Cruz) Edited by Lincoln Fest and Ed Davis
All quotes are at least 15 minutes late See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays
Philippines, hurricane, tropical cyclone, Bagasa, Luzon, Manila, floods
World News – Britain – Cyclone FAMCO caused the worst flooding in the Philippine capital in years
