Typhoon Carina floods Marikina; death toll rises to 14

Heavy rains caused by Typhoon Carina led to severe flooding in Marikina City on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Residents in Barangay Tumana and Barangay Malanday were cleaning up their homes and businesses after floodwaters receded, leaving behind mud and debris.

Julan Canendo from H. Bautista Elementary School lost his store's inventory of fruits and vegetables to the flooding, while Christine and John Steve Sebastian from Barangay Malanday also suffered significant losses.

Olivia Bajas expressed her distress over losing everything in her home due to the floods, which reached up to their roofs; meanwhile, Christine shared how the flood water rose quickly, destroying their livelihoods and leaving them without food.

Marikina River’s alert level was downgraded to first alarm as water levels dropped to 15.9 meters by early Thursday morning, making some flooded areas passable again due to river dredging and widening projects initiated in 2021.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the death toll from Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon had risen to 14 as of Thursday; two were injured and two missing with over a million individuals affected.

Residents are appealing for government assistance including food and financial aid to start their lives anew, while Marikina City has registered over 30,000 evacuees from more than 35 evacuation camps within the city.