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Manila: Storm Kalmaegi bore down on the northern provinces last afternoon drenching Metro Manila with heavy rains.
Flash floods swept key roadways in the lower areas of the national capital, snarling traffic and disrupting offices and schools.
Knee-deep water swept Manila's downtown Sampaloc district and several areas of suburban Quezon City, while in Malabon and Caloocan, officials suspended elementary and high school classes.
Flooding had been a perennial problem in these areas despite government efforts to alleviate people's suffering. Officials blamed poor urban planning for Metro Manila's seasonal flooding woes.
Storm Kalmaegi (Philippine codename: Helen) also hit Calayan Group of islands, Apayao, Batanes, and Ilocos Norte in northern Philippines.
According to state weather bureau Pagasa, storm signal No 2 cautioning of severe disturbances had been hoisted in these areas due to expected windspeeds of 70km/h to 120km/h. The Philippines lie in the path of destructive typhoons and some 24 storms visit the country every year, killing hundreds of people and causing hundreds of millions of pesos in property loses.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council has been placed by Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on alert for possible relocation of affected Metro Manila residents. "We have put our teams on alert for possible emergencies especially in the coastal areas," Teodoro said.
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