Manila: A heavy afternoon downpour caused flooding in Metro Manila stranding hundreds of motorists, particularly in Central and Northern parts of the metropolis.
Heavy rain started to fall at round 3.30pm on Monday leaving roads in Metro Manila’s biggest suburb, Quezon City, as well as the city of Manila, submerged in at least 30 centimetres to a metre deep of water.
The rain lasted for at least an hour and according to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the floodwaters had subsided by 4.30pm.
The flooding had submerged the Quezon City juncture of the main road artery, the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue as well as other main thoroughfares.
MAP: Flood-prone streets of Metro Manila. Mabilis bumaha dito: pic.twitter.com/C9hlNmdqO0— Tonyo Cruz (@tonyocruz) June 8, 2015
LOOK: Flash floods soak Manila http://t.co/18687FmT5M pic.twitter.com/3ruXwmwBwN— Donita (@roseclarete) June 8, 2015
The flash flood occurred just before rush hour and by 5pm traffic was already flowing at its normal, slow pace.
Although the Philippines is still observing summer, there had been occasional downpours.
LOOK: Flash floods soak Manila http://t.co/jm9IKjMBr2 pic.twitter.com/41KkOWUiBW— Stacy Moralez (@joostacyy) June 8, 2015
The rain provided relief to residents who had been reeling from recent high temperatures sometimes reaching 40 degrees Celsius.
During the afternoon downpour, many children took the opportunity to play in the relieving rain.
Aside from Metro Manila, other areas affected by the downpour include the provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Rizal and Quezon according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
LOOK: Flash floods soak Manila http://t.co/18687FmT5M pic.twitter.com/YrYBDkF4Kg— Donita (@roseclarete) June 8, 2015
The rains also come at a time when Central Luzon was experiencing a drought, endangering agricultural production the major rice growing region.
The absence of rains over the past several weeks had forced the Angat dam, a major water source for Central Luzon and Metro Manila, to cut down it supply of irrigation to farms in the area.
According to Dr Landrico Dalida Jr, officer in charge of the PAGASA, the dry spell, which had been blamed to the El Niño phenomenon, is expected to continue until October this year.
“Sea surface temperature anomaly has reached at least 1.0°C during the month of May 2015. Recent analyses suggest that this El Niño episode will likely continue and intensify to moderate strength in the next coming months and may last until early 2016,” he said.
He said rainfall analysis during May indicated that 80 per cent of the country have received below to way below normal rainfall.
The conditions across the archipelago vary he said.
“Near normal rainfall conditions were observed in Benguet, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela and Tarlac in Luzon; Aklan and Antique in the Visayas and Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Davao and Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao. However, Davao del Sur and Cotabato have received above normal rainfall,” he said.