Govt, private groups rush to aid flood victims

GOVERNMENT agencies and private groups mobilized Wednesday to help victims of widespread flooding in Metro Manila and other areas affected by torrential rains brought about by Typhoon Carina and the monsoon.

The Department of Health (DoH) released medicines and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) logistics to aid those affected by the floods.

In a report to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa confirmed that all DoH hospitals were operational despite flood waters reaching the ground floors of San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital and Tondo Medical Center.

Herbosa said that Health Emergency Response Teams were deployed to evacuation centers to assess and address the health needs of displaced individuals.

Earlier in the morning, DoH declared a Code White Alert across all regional Centers for Health Development and the Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) in response to increased flood risks.

Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Rescue workers from the Quezon City government help flood-affected residents of Barangay Tatalon in Araneta Avenue on July 24, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN

Herbosa emphasized the importance of avoiding floodwaters to prevent leptospirosis, urging immediate medical consultation if symptoms appear. These may include fever, muscle pain, headache and jaundice. Immediate medical consultation and preventive antibiotics are crucial after exposure.

Residents of Tinajeros in Malabon City carry a motorcycle to a safe place as floods in the area reach chest-deep. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN Residents of Tinajeros in Malabon City carry a motorcycle to a safe place as floods in the area reach chest-deep. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN Residents of Tinajeros in Malabon City carry a motorcycle to a safe place as floods in the area reach chest-deep. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN Residents of Tinajeros in Malabon City carry a motorcycle to a safe place as floods in the area reach chest-deep. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN Residents of Tinajeros in Malabon City carry a motorcycle to a safe place as floods in the area reach chest-deep. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN Residents of Tinajeros in Malabon City carry a motorcycle to a safe place as floods in the area reach chest-deep. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) deployed response teams, emergency vehicles, equipment and manpower to affected areas.

"If you need assistance, contact our operations center right away by calling 143. This is a dangerous storm; I pray for everyone's safety," PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon said.

People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA People take shelter from heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon 'Carina' in Makati City on July 23, 2024. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

PRC Secretary General Gwen Pang said the organization was fully prepared and equipped to handle emergencies throughout the rainy season.

PRC emergency response units assisted 140 individuals in Manila and Malabon and have mobilized six-by-six multi-purpose response trucks, ambulance units, food trucks and rescue boats in various locations, including Quezon City, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Malabon and Marikina.

Water search and rescue teams are active in Malabon and Mandaluyong, rescuing individuals from knee- and chest-deep floodwaters. Additionally, over 500 hot meals were distributed to families in evacuation centers in Iloilo and Manila by Red Cross volunteers, the PRC said.

Former vice president Leni Robredo said her nongovernment organization, Angat Buhay, was working to conduct rescue operations in the National Capital Region during the heavy downpour brought by the southwest monsoon and typhoon Carina.

"Angat Buhay is actively collaborating with some of our partners to support rescue operations in the National Capital Region. In addition, we are directly coordinating with various local government units to report immediate rescue needs in their areas," she wrote on her Facebook on Wednesday.

Robredo said she and her team are in touch with their Angat Bayanihan volunteers in Quezon City and Novaliches, Pasay City, Malabon City, Marikina City, Manila City, Olongapo City, Bulacan, Bataan and Rizal.

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