At least seven people were killed after typhoon Ulysses caused the worst flooding in years in Luzon and Metro Manila.
Ulysses is the 21st weather disturbance and the eight in the past two months to hit the Philippines.
Tropical Cyclone Wind signal number 3 was raised over large parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila. The heavy rains and strong winds sent thousands of residents to evacuation centers while many got stuck on their rooftops waiting for rescue.
Those who died of typhoon Ulysses were from Luzon, including those who drowned due to flash floods, an elderly man hit by a tree, and three workers crushed when a warehouse collapsed.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has yet to release an official report regarding Ulysses’ extent of the damage.
Ulysses also struck areas heavily damaged by Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), the strongest typhoon in the world for 2020 that killed 25 people and left thousands of families homeless.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the government agencies to send help to those affected by Ulysses immediately.
Duterte left early from Southeast Asian leaders’ virtual meeting to inspect the damage from Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco).
“Rest assured, the government will not leave anybody behind,” Duterte said in a national address.
Ulysses leaves 7 people dead in Luzon
Around three million families in and around Manila were without power as people waded through waist-high floods.
Philippine Coast Guard swam through brown floodwater that was as high as electricity poles in some areas to rescue stranded residents. Some used makeshift floats to ensure the safety of children and the elderly.
“The flood reached the entire second floor of our house. For more than eight hours, we stayed at our neighbor’s house,” call center worker Albert Rano, 35, told Reuters.
“Aside from some clothes and laptops, nothing is left.”
Meanwhile, Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro, on Friday, declared a state of calamity over the city due to the flooding and damages brought by Typhoon Ulysses.
At 4:00 AM today, the center of Severe Tropical Storm “ULYSSES” was estimated based on all available data at 415 km West of Iba, Zambales.
“ULYSSES” is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility this morning.