Manila flooding eases after killing 23

The Australian: Widespread flooding that killed at least 23 people, battered a million others and paralysed the Philippine capital has eased, allowing rescuers in boats to reach a large number of distressed residents still marooned in submerged villages.

Forecasters said on Wednesday the monsoon rains that overflowed major dams and rivers crisscrossing Manila and surrounding provinces would gradually abate and lead to sunny weather later this week after 12 days of relentless downpours.

The deluge that began late on Sunday was the worst since 2009 when hundreds died in rampaging flash floods. "We're still in a rescue mode," said Benito Ramos, who heads the government's main disaster-response agency. "Floods are receding in many areas but people are still trapped on their roofs."

Ramos said the massive flooding turned half of Manila into "a water world" on Monday evening and into Tuesday. At least 23 died, including nine in a landslide in a hillside slum in suburban Quezon City and several others who drowned in outlying provinces...

Entrance into R. Hidalgo street taken by Dean M. Bernardo on 10 November 2006 for public domain use for Wikipedia