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More than half of stranded Marikina residents yet to be rescued, says Teodoro


More than half of the Marikina residents who were stranded in their homes or rooftops due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses still need rescuing, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said Thursday afternoon.

In an interview on GMA News TV’s “QRT,” Teodoro said four to five areas in Marikina were hit hard by the heavy downpour and raging winds brought by Ulysses. 

“Ang palagay ko is wala pa kami sa kalahati na naililikas do’n sa mga stranded pero tuloy tuloy tayo ngayon at inaasahan kong magiging mas mabilis ngayon dahil nanawagan tayo ng tulong galing sa mga national agency natin,” he said.

The mayor said limited water assets are hampering rescue efforts.

“Ang mga rescue boat natin ay manually operated e, hindi ‘to motorized. Kanina, no’ng tumaas ang tubig at lumakas ang agos, hindi na tayo makapag-rescue dahil inaanod mismo ‘yung mga bangkang ginagamit natin,” he said.

Teodoro assured Marikina residents that the local government has coordinated with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police for rescue operations.

“Tunay pong mahirap ang buhay ngayon po. Hinihingi ko ang inyong pag-unawa na ang pamahalaan natin ay hindi ho perpekto. Tayo ho’y magtulong tulong,” he said.

Teodoro admitted that local authorities did not expect the water level of the Marikina River to exceed 18 meters, reaching a high of 22 meters at 11 a.m. Thursday.

“Inaasahan natin ang pinakamataas lamang ay nasa 18 meters ang water level nito kaya ang paghahanda natin ay nakabatay do’n sa data na meron tayo,” he said.

“Nabigla tayo. Bandang alas tres ng madaling araw, tumaas ng 18 meters at inaasahan natin, bababa na ito pagsikat ng araw… ngunit kabaliktaran ang nangyari, tumaas pa ito na higit pa sa level ng Ondoy,” he added.

GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz earlier explained that the string of cyclones that have entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility in recent weeks worsened the impact of Ulysses.

The typhoon was forecast to exit the country on Friday morning. -MDM, GMA News

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