Philippines: Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) Brings Hours of Heavy Rains and Strong Winds, Floods Several Regions of Luzon and Metro Manila

Typhoon Vamco or locally known as Typhoon Ulysses has battered the Bicol region on November 11, with citizens reporting several hours of heavy rains and strong winds. Several areas of Luzon Island such as CALABARZON, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila also had heavy rains and strong winds leaving villages submerged and people appealing for aid and rescue.

At 1 AM on Thursday, Typhoon Ulysses was at 30 km North of Infanta, Quezon with a maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h near the center and had a gustiness of 255 km/hr.

Typhoon Ulysses in Bicol Region

The rest of the Bicol region particularly Camarines provinces faced heavy flooding on Wednesday (local time), November 11 as heavy rains and winds brought by Typhoon Ulysses, made landfall in the area.

Even before Ulysses made a landfall, areas of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte were already experiencing waist-high floods as of Wednesday afternoon. Areas particularly hit by the floods were the towns on Baao and San Jose in Camarines Sur, as well as Capalonga town in Camarines Norte.

Bicol Region is still reeling from Super Typhoon Roli (Goni) which hit a week ago28, leaving horrifying devastation, particularly in Catanduanes and Albay. The super typhoon left thousands of homes damaged and at least 20 people dead.

In Albay, where the previous Supertyphoon left a devastating scar a week ago, roofs of several houses in Tabaco were torn off due to strong winds brought about by the typhoon Ulysses.

Typhoon Ulysses caused one death and three persons missing in the region, the Office of the Civil Defense reported. Avelino Cabanela, 68, was found dead on the roof of his house at Bagasbas Village, Daet, Camarines Norte where severe flooding was reported.

Several residents in Daet have to be rescued from their flooded home late Wednesday evening.

Among those rescued were three families, two babies, and four children.

Evacuation in Quezon Province and Central Luzon Areas

According to Governor Danilo Suarez of Quezon Province, about 7,686 families evacuated as the pre-emptive evacuation in the towns of Lopez, Tagkawayan, Calauag, San Andres, San Narciso, Gen. Luna, Burdeus, Macalelon, and Polillo Island.

Suarez also ordered the Disaster and Rescue and Relief Management Council to preposition the relief goods and rescue teams and vehicles.

Flooding in Metro Manila

On Thursday, hundreds of residents living near Marikina River were forced to evacuate their homes at past 3 AM as water levels rose due to nonstop rains brought about by Typhoon Ulysses. Marikina water levels were at 18 meters, a few levels closer to the water levels when Tropical Storm Ondoy hit the country in 2009.

AS of 10:33 AM on Thursday (local time), the Marikina River has risen to 22 meters.

Residents are forced to climb up their roofs as they call for rescue. Others have resorted to posting on social media in hopes of finding help for relatives and friends who are stranded in their homes.

Department of Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano reported other than the Bicol Region, Typhoon Ulysses caused heavy rains, strong winds, and severe flooding in Greater Metro Manila and Metro Manila are Montalban, San Mateo, Cainta and Marikina.

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