Man caught on video being swept away in Marikina River

A man was caught on camera pleading for help as he was swept away by raging waters of the Marikina River during Typhoon Ulysses' onslaught on Thursday.

From a bridge, GMA News was filming the rushing body of water - which at the time had already swollen more than it did during 2009's deadly Ondoy - when a loud scream was heard.

The man suddenly emerged from the muddy brown water asking for help.

GMA News' Jonathan Andal said the man's head could be seen sticking out of the water as he tried to stay afloat while being carried farther away down the river.

Nobody was able to help the man at the time, and local rescuers continued to look for him as of posting time.

Earlier in the day, the Marikina River reached 21.8 meters, breaching the level of Ondoy.

Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro admitted that authorities were overwhelmed by the situation, as evacuation centers have become packed even as residents in several areas awaited rescue with floods reaching the second floor of houses.

Marikina sits at a valley that serves as a catch basin of water from Quezon City in the west and Rizal in the east, making the city prone to flooding. -MDM, GMA News