Over 50,000 residents affected in Metro, 2 other provinces, disaster authorities say

OVER 50,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces as strong rains over the weekend resulted in heavy flooding, authorities said on Sunday.

In its Twitter account, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) declared a red alert earlier in the day as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) saw no let-up in the rains and the floods, with the opening of the gates of the Ambuklao (6.50 meters), (9.0 meters) and Magat (0.50 meters) dams expected to further swamp the affected areas.

Providing little relief was the announcement of Director Guillermo Eleazar of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) that the water level in Marikina River has gone down from 16.8 to 16.5 meters but with the second alarm still up or the city government remains on evacuation mode.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that a total of 54,060 persons were evacuated from their households in Metro Manila, and Rizal and Cavite.

The NCRPO said that a total of 450 families or 1,524 persons were evacuated from the area of the Northern Police District (NPD), which covers the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela (Camanava) while the Eastern Police District recorded a total of 4,503 families or 26,306 individuals.

The Manila Police District (MPD), meanwhile, said there were 40 families or 141 persons evacuated in their area with the Quezon City Police District reported 1,623 families or 5,455 individual evacuees.

The NDRRMC, led by the Department of National Defense (DND), is also composed of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration; the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Department of Health; Department of Public Works and Highways; Department of Education; Department of the Interior and Local Government; and Department of Agriculture. DEMPSEY REYES

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