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- Over 1 million people affected, thousands forced to evacuate
- World Vision staff share personal experience with surging waters
AUGUST 7, 2012 – Mass evacuation of hundreds of thousands from parts of Manila and other cities is under way as torrential rain and floods threaten to engulf the capital. Evacuation centres are already swelling with evacuees and the city struggles to cope with what could be its worst inundation since Tropical Storm Ketsana left the whole city and adjacent provinces underwater three years ago.
According to World Vision humanitarian and emergency affairs director, Bebeth Tiu, World Vision has mobilised its emergency response team to assess the situation and coordinate with government agencies to conduct a coordinated response. All World Vision staff have been accounted for.
Disaster authorities estimate over 1 million people are affected and about 250,000 displaced (NDRRMC). The numbers increase by the hour as pelting rains and raging floods are expected to engulf the metropolis and neighbouring provinces in the next two days.
Major roads are rendered impassable. However disaster relief manager Reynor Imperial announced that as soon as the flood significantly recedes, the response teams target to visit the affected areas of Malabon, Manila, Cavite and Zambales.
World Vision staff Erwin Sisracon who lives in a flood-prone area shared his ordeal: “Flood waters reached our street and it’s slowly rising up to the second level of our house. Some of our neighbours are already staying on their rooftops. If rains continue to pour we won’t have a choice but to do the same.”
Erwin’s family is just one of the hundreds of families that are helplessly trapped in their homes due to the flooding. Thousands more are expected to evacuate within the day.
World Vision staff Sally Gines shared, “I wasn’t able to leave our house because I was scared of the floods. Now we don’t have electricity here in our place as we prepare our lugaw (porridge) good for 20 displaced families who have joined us after fleeing their homes due to rising floods.”
In the coastal district of old Manila, World Vision program officer Aldwin Casas coordinates with the local social work authorities in World Vision-assisted project in Baseco. “Many families including our assisted families, are now sheltered in the evacuation center, they’ve been soaked wet while taking on long queues for ID cards”, shared Casas. Issuance of ID cards is a system World Vision uses to monitor the influx of evacuees. “The local authorities have not provided complete data yet as rescue efforts and continuous evacuation have been the priority,” Casas added.
In Zambales, residents from the village of Bunhi have evacuated with the help of rescuers from the local government. “People in the Cabangan village, one of World Vision-assisted areas, cry for help while drenched by the cold rain,” shared World Vision programme officer Matthew Santos. Other flooded areas at critical level include Botolan, Baquilan, Bangan, Danac Bunga, Paco, Nacolcol, Capayawan, and Taugtog.
World Vision Philippines currently supports over 5,500 children in Manila, Malabon and Zambales while about 1,400 children are assisted by World Vision Korea.
In 2009, heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Ketsana pounded the metro and caused massive flooding in Metro Manila and provinces in Northern Luzon.
Contact information:
Minnie Portales +639175342165
Public Engagement Director, World Vision Philippines
Jun Godornes +639178237277
Associate Director for Public Engagement, World Vision Philippines
Bebeth Tiu +639178179911
Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director, World Vision Philippines
Aaron Aspi +639065865443
Emergency Communications Specialist, World Vision Philippines
