Philippine authorities have moved thousands of Manila residents out of their low-lying communities as heavy monsoon rain, compounded by a tropical storm, flooded the city and nearby provinces.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mark Timbal said around 14,000 residents have been evacuated near Marikina river in Metro Manila as the water rose to a dangerous level due to non-stop heavy monsoon rains, as per media reports. The NDRRMC reported that authorities also evacuated nearly 1,800 residents in three towns in Rizal province, east of Manila, due to flood threats, adding that some residents in Mindoro province have also been evacuated.

Harsh weather has hit several parts of the world in recent weeks, bringing floods to China, India and Western Europe, and heat waves to North America, raising fears about climate change. The Philippine Coast Guard said its personnel also rescued more than 300 people in flood-stricken areas in Cavite province. The Philippines is also grappling with one of the worst outbreaks of Covid-19 in Asia and has tightened curbs to prevent the spread of the more infectious Delta variant.

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