Flood crisis in Philippines displaces thousands

Extreme downpours have displaced tens of thousands across the Philippines, causing widespread disruption across the capital, according to Arab News via Reuters on July 22nd.  

Torrential rains have triggered widespread flooding, displacing more than 82,000 residents and impacting at least 1.2 million others. The storm, which began last week, intensified significantly after the arrival of Typhoon Wipha. 

The Typhoon has since claimed at least six lives and submerged large parts of the country, including the capital, Manila. With nearly 500 areas in Metro Manila underwater, authorities have ordered the closure of schools and offices.  

In a briefing on July 21st, Don Artes, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, described water levels as ranging from ankle-deep to dangerously high in some districts. 

Artes continued to note that the city’s decades-old drainage infrastructure is inadequate for the volume of rainfall, exacerbating the crisis. 

Roughly 17,000 residents are now housed in evacuation facilities, as President Marcos Jr. instructs government departments to ramp up emergency response.

“The OCD (Office of Civil Defence) is now on red alert”, said the OCD Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro IV, “… The most heavily affected areas are Metro Manila, as well as the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, and Rizal.”

Authorities warn that the southwest monsoon may drop as much as 200mm of rain in the coming days. The National Weather Service, PAGASA, has issued alerts for severe flooding and potential landslides throughout the capital region and nearby provinces, such as Zambales and Bataan. 

A resident of Malabon City, one of the hardest-hit coastal districts located north of Manila, told a reporter that the flooding in the region is “getting frustrating and tiring.” He later explained that the water was is still above his waist, days after the storm hit.

The Philippines, which lies along the Pacific typhoon belt, is among the most disaster-prone countries in the world — experiencing an average of 20 tropical storms per year.

This disaster is one of many extreme flood events recorded globally in 2025, as record rainfall and intensified storms have displaced people worldwide.

Arab News via Reuters, Maghrebi,org