Atienza declares state of calamity in Manila

Manila Mayor Jose Atienza Jr. declared a state of calamity on Thursday and suspended classes in all levels on Friday in the wake of typhoon Milenyo. Atienza said city officials will work Friday to clear the debris left by "Milenyo." "The extent of damage to property is great. Many residents had been evacuated from their homes," Atienza said in an interview on DZBB radio. As of 7:30 p.m., most of the city remained in darkness after a blackout hit most of Luzon since early morning Thursday. The Quiapo underpass remained flooded, although water on Espana Avenue in Sampaloc started to go down. At least 500 families in Tondo's Del Pan, Parola, Baseco and Happy Land districts were evacuated to shelters, the city’s social welfare department reported. - GMANews.TV