'Number of flooded areas in Metro Manila doubles'

MANILA, Philippines - The Ateneo de Manila University-based weather center Manila Observatory said that there are more flooded areas in Metro Manila as monsoon rains intensified Tuesday.

The observatory has marked about 53 flooded metropolitan areas in a rainfall map as of 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday as opposed to only about 20 marked locations 12 hours before.

Tropical Storm "Maring" that entered the country late last week continued to enhance the southwest monsoon pouring torrential rains over Luzon.

The amount of rainfall in in the southern part of the capital, particularly in Las Piñas, has risen to 500 millimeters.

Manila Observatory's map marking flooded areas. Click the image to zoom.

"Highest rainfall amounts so far are in south of MM. In these areas rain is more than 500mm already. Makati areas are approaching Habagat 2012 level at 7.30AM today. Rain still continues," the observatory noted.

Total rainfall recorded at the Loyola Heights, Quezon monitoring station reached 168 millimeters within just two days from 12:00 a.m. on August 18 Sunday to 7:30 a.m. on August 20 Tuesday. The amount is almost half of average monthly August rainfall at the station of 371 millimeters since 1997.

Typhoon Ondoy in August last year, meanwhile, was recorded at 370 millimeters in only 24 hours at the said station.

"The low rain totals compared to 2012 so far specifically in Quezon City does not mean that this weather system is not serious," the observatory said in a statement.