This week's devastating floods from Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) enhanced by the southwest monsoon have caused people to relive their memories of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, which similarly poured enough rain to engulf whole cities and turn streets into rivers.
Data from state weather bureau PAGASA show that these comparisons are not without basis.
Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro campaigned on Thursday for a larger supply of antibiotics for flood-affected residents in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Carina.
Teodoro said the city needs doxycycline, used to treat leptospirosis, a bacterial disease acquired from contaminated floodwaters. — Gabriell Christel Galang
Typhoon Carina, currently located 515 kilometers north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, is now outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, state weather agency PAGASA reported that Carina was carrying a maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near its center, gusts reaching up to 215 kph, and a central pressure of 965 hPa.
It is advancing west-northwestward at a speed of 20 kph.
Signal No. 1 is still hoisted over Batanes.
Several banks have announced suspended or limited operations in selected branches on Thursday following inclement weather due to Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the southwest monsoon.
Carina has left the Philippine area of responsibility but left a trail of destruction in the country after it strengthened the southwest monsoon. — Jean Mangaluz
Typhoon Gaemi (locally known in the Philippines as Carina) passed through Taiwan overnight and was headed towards eastern China on Thursday, leaving two dead as heavy rains and strong gusts continued to lash the island in its wake.
The day before, the storm had forced Taiwan to cancel some of its annual war games, shutter schools and offices, and evacuate thousands from high-risk, landslide-prone areas.
The reported death toll from the combined effects of Super Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the southwest monsoon has risen to at least 14 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Thursday.
The NDRRMC reported at least 8 fatalities in its latest update on the effects of Typhoon Carina, the southwest monsoon, and Tropical Depression Butchoy, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility last week. — Jean Mangaluz
The Supreme Court (SC) has announced the suspension of work in several courts across the country for Thursday due to heavy rainfall caused by the southwest monsoon, which has been intensified by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi).
The announcement was made by the SC’s Public Information Office on Wednesday evening. — Ian Laqui
Typhoon Carina has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of 6:20 a.m. on Thursday, according to state weather bureau PAGASA
"Southwest monsoon (habagat) will continue to affect most parts of Luzon," PAGASA said.
"Moderate to heavy rains is still possible along the western section of Luzon," it added.
The water level at the Marikina River went down to 15 meters early Thursday morning, prompting the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to downgrade the alert to first alarm.
The alarm was raised at 5:45 a.m. when the water level reached 15.6 meters, as recorded by the Sto. Niño Water Level Gauging Station.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Thursday announced that several international and domestic flights have been canceled due to the unfavorable weather conditions brought by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi).
As of Thursday 4 a.m., the MIAA announced 148 flight cancellations. — Cristina Chi