Parts of Metro Manila flooded as enhanced Habagat brought relentless rains

The three tropical cyclones being monitored have enhanced the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, which caused continuous rains over Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

In James Agustin's report on "24 Oras" on Wednesday, visibility was nearly zero along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday evening due to the heavy downpour.

Water levels rose rapidly on N.S. Amoranto Street near the corner of Araneta Avenue.

Personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways cleared the garbage clogging the drainage system. But minutes later, the road became impassable to light vehicles.

Some trucks tried their luck in the flooded road and managed to cross.

A portion of Araneta Avenue was also flooded. Light vehicles were initially able to pass through until water levels rose, leaving only trucks able to cross and forcing several motorists to turn back.

Along Sto. Domingo Avenue near the corner of Calamba Street, floodwaters rendered the road completely impassable to all motorists around 1 a.m.

"I did not know that this was the situation here...I will just look for an alternative route," said motorist Julian Manahan.

A motorcycle rider, who was on his way home with his wife, was not able to cross the flooded road.

"We will just wait for the rain to stop and the floodwater to subside. We cannot just go home with the heavy rain," said Reynald Brier.

The Quezon City Department of Engineering conducted pumping operations along E. Rodriguez Avenue near Araneta Avenue. Past midnight, three pumps from the QC local government unit, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and DPWH were simultaneously operated to drain floodwaters faster from Araneta Avenue's drainage system into the San Juan River.

Valenzuela City

Heavy rain and strong winds also battered Valenzuela City, particularly along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Karuhatan.

In under 20 minutes, floodwaters rose to gutter-deep levels. Along Karuhatan Road, several residents were forced to stay on sidewalks to avoid the rising water.

In Barangay Marulas, motorcycle riders struggled to navigate floods exceeding one foot deep. Nearby streets were also submerged after a local creek overflowed into a subdivision.

Despite the risk of their engines stalling in the high water, some riders continued to wade through the flood.

Malabon

In Malabon, the overflowing of Letre Creek triggered severe flooding along P. Aquino Avenue, where water levels nearly reached bridge height.

Flooding hit knee-deep levels along Rizal Avenue near Malabon City Hall. Several motorcycle riders were forced to push their stalled vehicles through the water, while other motorists risked driving through the deep flood.

A resident parked his motorcycle on a nearby bridge for safety. While he's used to the flooding in their area, he expressed frustration over the recurring problem.

"The flood is already deep, so I brought it out," said Mark.

"We experience this every year. We are fed up with this. This is frustrating," he added.

According to PAGASA, the tropical depression has slightly weakened.

The agency is also monitoring a tropical storm outside of PAR. But it was almost stationary.

There is another tropical depression outside of PAR, west of extreme northern Luzon. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA News