‘Akala namin katapusan na namin’: Babies, moms rescued from Marikina rooftop

When the power went out in Provident Village, Marikina due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, several families decided against evacuating their homes amid the darkness.

As early as 4 a.m. Thursday, however, many residents found themselves helpless on their rooftops as they waited for rescue teams to arrive.

According to Maki Pulido’s “24 Oras” report, among those stranded on top of their homes were several families that had babies, young children, and dogs.

Rescuers eventually made their way to the house of the stranded residents after struggling with deep floods and wires.

The relatives and pets of the mothers and babies had to be left on the rooftops after the rescue boat reached full capacity.

The infants, children, and their mothers were taken to the barangay hall.

They did not expect the water to rise as quickly as it did, they said.

“Akala po namin katapusan na namin e,” one of the mothers, visibly shaken, added.

As of Thursday afternoon, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said more than half of stranded residents still needed rescuing. 

Floods also wreaked havoc in several other areas in the city after the Marikina River exceeded Typhoon Ondoy levels, reaching a high of 22 meters at 11 a.m. 

Teodoro appealed for understanding from residents as rescue teams battled a myriad of roadblocks.

The mayor earlier said Ulysses’ impact was reminiscent of Ondoy’s, which also ravaged Provident Village over a decade ago. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News