Man stranded in barge swept from Marikina River rescued

The man stranded on the barge that crashed into F. Manalo Bridge has been successfully rescued. (Photo from Pasig PIO/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — A man who was stuck on a barge that was swept from the Marikina River to an area near the Manggahan floodway was rescued at 12:43 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, Pasig City’s local government unit said.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the Pasig City’s Public Information Office (PIO) said rescue operations was initiated for the man staying atop a barge that was swept toward the portion of Marikina River in Barangay Manggahan.

Other individuals trapped on the barge have been rescued already.

READ: Metro Manila now under state of calamity due to Typhoon Carina

“Along with the ongoing rescue operations over different parts of the City of Pasig, we are currently rescuing a man on top of one of the barges that hit the floodgate and F. F. Manalo Bridge in Barangay Manggahan,” Pasig PIO said.

“Other individuals on top of the barge have been rescued with the help of the barangay and BFP-Pasig,” it added.

READ: Carina weakens; continues to enhance habagat – Pagasa

Videos filmed by residents of a condominium near Calle Industria earlier showed barges—possibly used to dredge the river—being driven by currents from Marikina River to the Pasig River, after strong rains due to the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Carina.

Several roads and communities over Metro Manila and nearby provinces were flooded due to non-stop rains brought by the Carina-intensified southwest monsoon.

Classes at all levels and government work have been suspended in NCR as the region was placed under a state of calamity.

Forced evacuation

Over Marikina City, forced evacuation was implemented as water levels breached 18 meters—going as high as 20.7 meters. Levels rose due to flood waters from the mountainous regions of Rizal provinces coming down to the river, causing strong currents and sweeping barges from their position.

By Wednesday night, water levels at the Marikina River appears to be receding, as reports from Marikina PIO as of 10:00 p.m. of July 24 stated that it is at 19.0 meters—down from 19.5 meters last 9:00 p.m.; 19.4 meters at 9:10 p.m.; and 19.1 meters at 9:40 p.m.

Despite rains ceasing and Typhoon Carina weakening, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that flooding and strong rains may still persist, especially over Ilocos Sur, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga, Abra, Metro Manila, Rizal, and Bulacan.

According to Pagasa, Zambales, La Union, Pangasinan, and Benguet can expect 100 to 200 millimeters (mm) of rain, while for Metro Manila and its nearby provinces, 50mm to 100mm of rain can be felt.