PAGASA to NCR: Brace for severe flooding

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GUTTER-DEEP. Floodwater starts to rise along España in Manila as Typhoon Maring brings intense rains August 18. Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The state weather bureau raised a red rainfall warning over Metro Manila on Sunday evening, August 18, saying “severe flooding is expected” due to “intense rains” brought about by Typhoon Maring.

In its 9 pm bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) advised residents in the National Capital Region “to take precautionary measures.”

A red warning means more than 30 mm have been observed in an hour and is expected to continue in the next two hours. An evacuation is advised in low-lying areas.

The latest Pagasa said “heavy to intense rains” are also affecting the provinces of ‪Bataan‬, ‪Zambales‬, ‪Bulacan‬, ‪Pampanga‬, ‪Tarlac‬, ‪Nueva‬ ‪Ecija‬, ‪Rizal‬, ‪Cavite‬, ‪Laguna‬, and ‪Batangas‬.

The rains are “most likely to continue for the next 3 hours.”

The heavy rain has caused water level in Marikina River to rise, prompting officials to declare Alert level 2.

#Marikinariver 16m as of 10:37pm Alert Level 2
— PIO Marikina (@MarikinaPIO) August 18, 2013

Alert level 2 calls for preparedness among residents near the river.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has also posted in its Twitter account reports of flooding in various parts of the metro.

FLOOD ALERT: As of 10:45 PM Brgy. Gumamela St QC-not passable to all type of vehicles,Brgy. (cont) http://t.co/oEfEcNokhH
— Official MMDA (@MMDA) August 18, 2013

FLOOD ALERT: As of 8:00 PM España Antipolo-11 inches,San Diego-20 inches #mmda
— Official MMDA (@MMDA) August 18, 2013

FLOOD ALERT: As of 7:50 PM Gumamela St. Brgy. Roxas QC-knee deep,Brgy. tatalon Araneta Villa España-knee (cont) http://t.co/YZfFbGlKll
— Official MMDA (@MMDA) August 18, 2013