(Eagle News) — More rains are expected Sunday (Aug. 14) in Metro Manila, and the rest of Luzon as residents in low lying areas and near waterways in the Philippine capital were ordered to evacuate Saturday.
The Office of Civil Defense has recorded 3.5 millimeters of moderate rains in the last hour (from 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.).
Enforced evacuation is ordered for residents along Tullahan River in Quezon City, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela.
Mandatory evacuation is also ordered for residents in low lying areas in Marikina City.
The country’s weather bureau, PAGASA, said occasional rains will prevail over the provinces of Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Ifugao, Benguet, Mt. Province, Abra, Apayao and Kalinga.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Batanes, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Cagayan.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Northern Luzon and Aurora Province. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.
The torrential rains were caused by the southwest monsoon which are expected to continue to affect the capital and nearby provinces.
The Quezon City government has already recommended emergency evacuation of residents living along Tullahan River as the La Mesa Dam was on red alert and neared its spilling level Saturday afternoon.
The Marikina River on the other hand reached Alert Level 4 or over 18 meters, well above the 15-meter critical level as of Saturday afternoon.
PAGASA said the rainy weather experienced in Metro Manila and nearby provinces is expected to persist until Sunday.
Forecasters said a low-pressure area and a tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility have enhanced the southwest monsoon.
The low pressure area was located north of Batanes, but exited the country Saturday. However, it would continue to affect the country’s weather.
Meanwhile, forecasters said the tropical depression over the Pacific Ocean is not expected to enter the country just yet. But this could also enhance the southwest monsoon.
Some parts of Metro Manila recorded as much as 39 millimeters of rain in one hour on Saturday, Aug. 13, which is classified as torrential.