Rescue operations in Marikina continue as water from river rises

This handout photo taken on August 8, 2012 and released by the Department of National Defense (DND) shows an aerial shot of the overflowing Marikina river in suburban Manila. More than a million people in and around the Philippine capital battled deadly floods on August 8, as more monsoon rain fell, with neck-deep waters trapping both slum dwellers and the wealthy on rooftops. AFP PHOTO/DND

MANILA, Philippines — Rescue operations continued Thursday for Marikina City residents who were stranded in their homes anew after they went back Wednesday night.

Rising levels of floodwater from the Marikina River, now at 20.6 meters from the previous 18, and strong currents in some parts of Provident Village, one of the hard hit areas, are making it difficult for rescue teams to maneuver their rubber boats.

Radio and television reports said that evacuees went back to their homes to see what items they could salvage after floodwaters went down Wednesday night.

Police from Tuguegarao and Nueva Vizcaya are now in Marikina to augment the city’s rescue teams.

No casualties have been reported so far.