Heavy rain triggers massive traffic slowdown in Metro Manila Thursday

If you were stuck in traffic on EDSA, SLEX or other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila on Thursday, count yourself as one of the tens of thousands similarly inconvenienced that day. Heavy rain triggered gutter-deep floods in Metro Manila on Thursday afternoon, snarling traffic on major thoroughfares.

As  of 2 p.m. Thursday, the state weather bureau said light to moderate rain was affecting portions of Metro Manila and Cavite.

The thunderstorm is also affecting Zambales, Tarlac and portions of Rizal, Batangas and Bulacan.

According to the Metro Manila Development Authority, gutter deep floods were recorded on Edsa-Reliance and POEA-Ortigas  and Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong; Magallanes, Estrella and Orense in Makati City; and Taft Avenue in Manila.

The rain caused bumper to bumper traffic along Edsa, the MMDA added.

Floods also hit several villages in Makati, including Barangay (village) Singkamas, Pio del Pilar, San Antonio, Valenzuela and Olympia.

A the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, at least 20 flights have been grounded due to the bad weather conditions in several parts of the country.

Flood also hit the food court inside the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, Makati, after a water pipe burst in one restaurant’s area.

Among those cancelled were PAL Express and Cebu Pacific flights bound for Catarman, Legazpi, Calbayog, Naga, Busuanga and Caticlan and their returning flights.

With a report from Niña Calleja