Rescuers paddle their boats along a flooded street in Manila on July 24, 2024 amid heavy rains brought by Typhoon Gaemi. Relentless rain drenched the northern Philippines on July 24, triggering flooding in Manila and landslides in mountainous regions as Typhoon Gaemi intensified the seasonal monsoon. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — “Hindi ‘yan swimming pool. Uwi!” (It’s not a swimming pool. Go home!)
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna couldn’t help but exclaim these words on Wednesday upon seeing children wading through flood waters in the city.
At the time, Lacuna was conducting roving operations in the city to provide flood situation updates in light of the incessant rains brought by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat.
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After seeing the children playing amid torrential rains and knee-deep floods, Lacuna urged Manileños to take care of their children.
“Mga magulang, napaka delikado po dito. Naku po, may lumalangoy pa. Sawayin po ninyo ang inyong mga anak,” she said.
(Parents, it’s very dangerous here. Someone is even swimming. Reprimand your children.)
“Nananawagan po ako sa lahat po ng mga magulang, please lang po, delikado po sa inyong mga anak na nasa labas. Pauwiin niyo po. Bilangin niyo po ‘yung mga anak niyo kung kumpleto kayo. Mahirap pong may madisgrasya dito ngayon,” she added.
(I am calling on all parents, please, it is dangerous for your children to be outside. Please send them home. Please count your children if they are complete. It’s hard to have an accident here now.)
The state weather bureau, in its early morning forecast, warned residents of Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, and Laguna against occasional rains.
Dwellers in these areas were also told to be vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to intense downpours.
As of posting time, no tropical cyclone wind signal was raised over Metro Manila, but the state weather bureau warned the habagat may also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the region.
Carina is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday or early Thursday morning.