Typhoon Haikui leaves 19 dead in Manila

MANILA - Nineteen people died and nearly two million people were displaced as torrential rains inundated northern and central Philippines in the past few days, officials said Thursday.

Houses swamped by floodwaters in Bulacan province, north of Manila is seen in this aerial photograph released by the Department of National Defense Aug 8, 2012. Emergency workers and troops rushed food, water and clothes to nearly 850,000 people displaced and marooned from deadly floods spawned by 11 straight days of southwest monsoon rains that soaked the Philippine capital and nearby provinces. About 60 percent of Manila, a sprawling metropolis of about 12 million people, remained inundated on Wednesday, Benito Ramos, head of the national disaster agency said. [Photo/Agencies]

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said nine of the victims died from landslide, eight from drowning and two from electrocution. Four were injured while three remained missing. A total of 1.95 million people were affected by one of the worst flood to hit the country since 2009 as Typhoon Haikui paralyzed  Manila and most of Luzon island.  

The social welfare department, local government units and non governmental organizations have provided 22.98 million pesos ($549,892) worth of relief assistance to the floood victims.

Tropical storm Haikui has already left the Philippines Thursday morning but the capital region- Metro Manila - and surrounding provinces continue to experience light to moderate rainfall.

Private and public offices have reopened, but schools remain closed in flood-hit areas. Some roads are passable as floods subside. Philippine Airlines said that all flights will proceed but there will be slight delays due to the weather condition.

A Department of National Defense aerial photograph shows buildings submerged by floodwaters in Bulacan province, north of Manila Aug 8, 2012. Emergency workers and troops rushed food, water and clothes to nearly 850,000 people displaced and marooned from deadly floods spawned by 11 straight days of southwest monsoon rains that soaked the Philippine capital and nearby provinces. About 60 percent of Manila, a sprawling metropolis of about 12 million people, remained inundated on Wednesday, Benito Ramos, head of the national disaster agency said. [Photo/Agencies]