MikeLigalig.com

by Helen Flores
Philippine Star

Metro Manila residents waded through floodwaters a meter deep yesterday as “Pedring” (international code name Nesat) pummeled Northern Luzon, killing at least nine people and toppling power lines and trees along its path.

Large swathes of Metro Manila were without electricity for several hours yesterday. Classes and work in government offices were suspended as well as trading in the stock market. Several flights were also canceled.

In Marikina, the rising river compelled the evacuation of residents in low-lying areas.

A storm surge worsened the usual flooding in northern Metro Manila, where rubber boats were deployed to assist residents in Malabon and Navotas.

The storm surge, which brought waves up to 20 feet high, also damaged the breakwater in Manila Bay as well as the seawall along Roxas Boulevard, spawning one of the worst floods about three feet deep along the thoroughfare.

Weather officials said Pedring made landfall over the boundary of Aurora and Isabela at 4 a.m. yesterday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds.

Rene Paciente, senior weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said another weather disturbance, to be named “Quiel,” was expected to enter the country this week but is unlikely to directly affect the country.

Earlier, PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Quiel was expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday and hit Samar province by Monday next week.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, storm warning signal no. 3 remained hoisted over Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet and Pangasinan.

Signal no. 2 was still up in Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales.

Under signal no. 1 were Metro Manila, Cagayan including Babuyan and Calayan group of islands, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan.

PAGASA lifted storm signals in other areas affected by the typhoon.

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