The capital city of the Philippines has been drenched by heavy, deadly rainfall for 11 days now, beginning with the arrival of Typhoon Saola last week, leading to mudslides and extensive flooding. About 60 percent of Manila is currently flooded, and authorities are reporting 72 deaths so far. Nearly 850,000 remain stranded or displaced, as residents wait for a break in the downpour, predicted to begin on Thursday.
Monsoon Rain Floods Manila
-
Residents ride on a makeshift raft during a heavy downpour along a flooded street in Malabon, Metro Manila, on August 1, 2012. Typhoon Saola (Gener) pounded the Philippine territory for days, followed by heavy monsoon rains. #
Reuters/Erik De Castro -
-
Residents wait for their family members being rescued at the end of a flooded street in the village of Tumana, Marikina town, in suburban Manila, on August 7, 2012, after torrential rains inundated most of the capital. #
Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images -
-
A Department of National Defense aerial photograph shows buildings and roads submerged by floodwaters in Rodriguez town, Rizal province, east of Manila, on August 8, 2012. Emergency workers and troops rushed food, water and clothes to nearly 850,000 people displaced and marooned from deadly floods spawned by 11 straight days of southwest monsoon rains that soaked the Philippine capital and nearby provinces. #
Reuters/Department of National Defense -
A resident wades along a flooded street in suburban Manila, on August 8, 2012. 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. #
Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images -
Residents wade through floodwaters as another looks down from a rooftop in Marikina City, Metro Manila, on August 7, 2012. Rescuers rushed to reach trapped residents across the Philippine capital on Tuesday, as torrential rains triggered severe flooding. Flood waters reached up to two meters (6.5 feet) in the village of Tumana in Marikina City, an eastern suburb of metropolitan Manila, where some residents were stranded in their homes. #
Reuters/Cheryl Ravelo -
-
-
A father carrying his daughter on his back holds onto a rope as they cross a strong current while a rescuer guides them through the flood waters in the village of Tumana, Marikina town, on August 7, 2012. #
Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images -
-
Residents stay on their roof as floods rise in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, on August 7, 2012. Relentless rains submerged half of the sprawling Philippine capital, triggered a landslide that killed eight people and sent emergency crews scrambling Tuesday to rescue and evacuate tens of thousands of residents. #
AP Photo/Mike Alquinto -
-
-
-
Filipino rescuers carry a landslide victim after pulling him out of the debris where four homes collapsed in a landslide incident in Quezon City, north of Manila, on Tuesday August 7, 2012. #
AP Photo/Mike Alquinto -
-
A girl carries her sister as they share a temporary shelter with other evacuees inside a classroom turned into evacuation center in Marikina City, Metro Manila, on August 8, 2012. Emergency workers and troops rushed food, water and clothes to nearly 850,000 people displaced and marooned from deadly floods spawned by 11 straight days of southwest monsoon rains that soaked the Philippine capital and nearby provinces. #
Reuters/Cheryl Ravelo -
-
A soaking wet child sits on a post on a flooded street in suburban Manila, on August 8, 2012. More than one million people in and around the Philippine capital battled deadly floods on August 8 amid relentless monsoon rains, not predicted to let up until Thursday at the earliest. #
Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images -
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.