Flooded portions of NLEx now passable

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO /GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — Portions of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) which were previously flooded due to torrential rains are now passable, live video footage from NLEx Corporation on Thursday morning showed.

In a livestream on its Facebook account, NLEx Corporation showed the northbound and southbound lanes of the Balintawak Toll Plaza, Mapulang Lupa in Valenzuela, Mindanao Toll Plaza, Libtong in Meycauayan, Bulacan and the San Fernando Interchange free of floodwaters.

A zipper lane, however, appears to have been set up over the northbound lane near Barangay Lias in Marilao town, as clearing operations have not been finished.

 Earlier, at 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, NLEx Corporation posted a traffic status showing that zipper lanes were also opened at the southbound lane after the Meycauayan Interchange.

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

 Classes in all levels and government work have been suspended in Metro Manila, which was also placed under a state of calamity.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Typhoon Carina weakened further as it exits the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).