MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm “Mario” has slightly weakened as it traversed the northern tip of Luzon and continues on its way to Taiwan, the state weather bureau said in its afternoon weather bulletin Friday.
As this developed, the rainfall warning in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal and Cavite was lowered from Red to Orange around 6 p.m. Friday.
But the Red warning was hoisted in Bataan, Zambales and Nueva Ecija, where rainfall amount is more than 30 millimeters and is expected in an hour.
The Yellow warning, meanwhile, was raised in Laguna, Batangas and Quezon Province.
As of 4 p.m., the center of Mario was located 70 kilometers north east of Laoag City and continues to move west northwest at 19 kilometers per hour, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Mario slightly weakened to 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
Signal number 2 is still raised in Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
Meanwhile, signal number 1 is up in Isabela, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Abra, and Ilocos Sur.
Rains brought by Mario is expected to be 7 – 20 mm per hour (moderate – intense) .
A 2-year-old girl was confirmed to have died due to drowning in Bagong Silang, Quezon City. There were also reports of a 69-year-old who died in Rodriguez, Rizal but has not yet been verified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Cainta, Rizal and Marikina City have been placed under a state of calamity due to the high flood levels.
Schools and government offices were shut in Manila as authorities said thousands were evacuated from severely inundated communities, where rapidly flowing waters swirled neck-high in places. Radio stations reported residents taking shelter in the second floor of homes where the water had reached the ceiling of the ground floor.
Flooded streets caused traffic gridlock across the city of 12 million, with many motorists and other commuters unaware of the extent of the flooding due to a lack of reports from local authorities.
Manila airport authorities said the rains and radar problems caused delays and the cancellation of at least 28 domestic flights to and from northern and central Philippines. At least three international flights heading to Manila were diverted to Clark International Airport in northern Pampanga province. With a report from AP
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