Tropical Storm Ondoy

How devastating it is to be in the middle of a natural disaster and realize there’s absolutely nothing you can do to prevent it.  On Saturday, we had Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) come through Manila and it brought over a month’s worth of rain down in 9 hours (over 16 inches of rain in half a day).  Even though this was never actually considered a Typhoon and remained only a Tropical Storm (due to the fact that the wind speeds never got that strong), it has now caused the worst flooding the Philippines has seen in 40 years and surpassed the single-day rainfall record set in 1967.  As of today, 73 people are confirmed dead (number expected to rise) and over 300,000 displaced due to the massive flooding.  Below are a few pictures from around the area showing the chaos and destruction:

 

People are stranded in Cainta, province of Rizal, in eastern Manila.

 

An aerial view from a Philippine Air Force chopper shows devastation brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy in Cainta, province of Rizal , in eastern Manila.

 

Residents are evacuated by police boats during flooding in Cainta Rizal, east of Manila.

 

 

Residents clamber on electric wires to stay out of floodwaters while others wade neck-deep in Cainta Rizal, east of Manila.

 

Commuters wade through waist-deep floodwaters after heavy rains dumped by Tropical Storm Ondoy on Saturday, Sept. 26, in Manila, Philippines.

 

 

A boy is lifted onto the roof of a building to escape the flooding in the Quezon City suburban of Manila .

 

Residents cross a flooded street with the use of a rope in Quezon City.

 

A victim of flooding is rescued in Pasig City, east of Manila. Authorities rushed rescue and relief to thousands of people who spent the night on the roofs of their submerged houses in Manila and surrounding provinces.

 

I would just like to ask that everyone keep thinking of the people of the Philippines during this difficult time and assist wherever you can.  Red Cross of the Philippines is taking donations (and can be contacted through US as well) as are many other charities and organizations.