Death toll from Philippines floods rises

the CNN Wire Staff
1 minute read
Updated 2:36 AM EDT, Sun August 12, 2012
Filipino students walk on a footbridge on a road that remains flooded a week after heavy monsoon rains in Taguig City, south of Manila, Philippines, August 16, 2012. A tropical storm hit the Northern Luzon, bringing days of wet weather to a region still recovering from massive flooding. According to the Office of Civil Defense, the floods have left at least 96 people dead and affected up to 2.68 million people.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Filipino students walk on a footbridge on a road that remains flooded a week after heavy monsoon rains in Taguig City, south of Manila, Philippines, August 16, 2012. A tropical storm hit the Northern Luzon, bringing days of wet weather to a region still recovering from massive flooding. According to the Office of Civil Defense, the floods have left at least 96 people dead and affected up to 2.68 million people.
epa/landov
Filipino residents reinforce a footbridge on a flooded road. Last week's deluge was the worst to hit Manila and surrounding areas since 2009, when Tropical Storm Ketsana caused flash floods that left hundreds dead or missing.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Filipino residents reinforce a footbridge on a flooded road. Last week's deluge was the worst to hit Manila and surrounding areas since 2009, when Tropical Storm Ketsana caused flash floods that left hundreds dead or missing.
epa/landov
Filipinos rest on a footbridge above the flooded road.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Filipinos rest on a footbridge above the flooded road.
epa/landov
Filipino Nelia Lasona walks along a footbridge.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Filipino Nelia Lasona walks along a footbridge.
epa/landov
A girl is submerged in the water outside her home next to the swollen Pampanga River on Wednesday, August 15, in Bulacan, Philippines.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A girl is submerged in the water outside her home next to the swollen Pampanga River on Wednesday, August 15, in Bulacan, Philippines.
Getty Images
Antonio Navarro Sambiilay bathes inside his flooded home in Bulacan, Philippines.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Antonio Navarro Sambiilay bathes inside his flooded home in Bulacan, Philippines.
Getty Images
A flood victim sits at a crowded evacuation center in a neighborhood covered in water in Bulacan.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A flood victim sits at a crowded evacuation center in a neighborhood covered in water in Bulacan.
Getty Images
Displaced flood victims pack a crowded evacuation center in a flooded neighborhood.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Displaced flood victims pack a crowded evacuation center in a flooded neighborhood.
Getty Images
Locals lift the casket of Nelida Gregorio, 89, who died of a heart attack, into a grave site in a flooded cemetery.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Locals lift the casket of Nelida Gregorio, 89, who died of a heart attack, into a grave site in a flooded cemetery.
Getty Images
Vehicles traverse a road eroded by heavy rains along the national highway in Trinidad, Benguet province, north of Manila. Two people were killed as another tropical storm swept across the Philippines on August 15, triggering landslides in the mountainous north and dumping more heavy rain on the flood-battered capital.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Vehicles traverse a road eroded by heavy rains along the national highway in Trinidad, Benguet province, north of Manila. Two people were killed as another tropical storm swept across the Philippines on August 15, triggering landslides in the mountainous north and dumping more heavy rain on the flood-battered capital.
AFP/Getty Images
Precy Magtalas holds her daughter Kristine outside their home next to the Pampanga River.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Precy Magtalas holds her daughter Kristine outside their home next to the Pampanga River.
Getty Images
Leo Sampilay, his wife, Anna, and 1-year-old daughter, Kim, sit in their home in a flooded province in Bulacan, Philippines.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Leo Sampilay, his wife, Anna, and 1-year-old daughter, Kim, sit in their home in a flooded province in Bulacan, Philippines.
Getty Images
A woman lights her flooded home with a candle in Bulacan.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A woman lights her flooded home with a candle in Bulacan.
Getty Images
People walk along a flooded street as more rain falls in the flooded region on Tuesday, August 14, in Bulacan.
Flooding in the Philippines —
People walk along a flooded street as more rain falls in the flooded region on Tuesday, August 14, in Bulacan.
Getty Images
Mothers carry their children through a flooded street.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Mothers carry their children through a flooded street.
Getty Images
A man stands in a flooded street in Bulacan on Tuesday, August 14, as more rain falls on the region.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A man stands in a flooded street in Bulacan on Tuesday, August 14, as more rain falls on the region.
Getty Images
Children look out from their home Tuesday as more rain falls in the flooded coastal region in Bulacan.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Children look out from their home Tuesday as more rain falls in the flooded coastal region in Bulacan.
Getty Images
People with dengue fever rest Tuesday at a hospital in Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
People with dengue fever rest Tuesday at a hospital in Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Displaced flood victims sleep at a crowded evacuation shelter in Manila on Monday, August 13.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Displaced flood victims sleep at a crowded evacuation shelter in Manila on Monday, August 13.
Getty Images
Lornitas Calub hugs her grandson at a crowded evacuation shelter in Manila on Monday.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Lornitas Calub hugs her grandson at a crowded evacuation shelter in Manila on Monday.
Getty Images
iReporter Reynaldo Cedilla captured this image of the heavy flooding in Manila, Philippines. "Underpasses were not passable to any type of vehicles due to the high water level. In the streets there were waist and knee deep floodwaters. ... Stranded locals tried to wade through it despite the danger," he said.
Flooding in the Philippines —
iReporter Reynaldo Cedilla captured this image of the heavy flooding in Manila, Philippines. "Underpasses were not passable to any type of vehicles due to the high water level. In the streets there were waist and knee deep floodwaters. ... Stranded locals tried to wade through it despite the danger," he said.
courtesy Reynaldo Cedilla
Flood victims use candles for light as they cook dinner at a crowded evacuation center on Saturday, August 11, in Manila, Philippines.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Flood victims use candles for light as they cook dinner at a crowded evacuation center on Saturday, August 11, in Manila, Philippines.
Getty Images
A flood victim holds his son at a crowded evacuation center in Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A flood victim holds his son at a crowded evacuation center in Manila.
Getty Images
Residents of the Tomana slum in the Manila suburb of Marikina stand inside their home after water finally recedes.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents of the Tomana slum in the Manila suburb of Marikina stand inside their home after water finally recedes.
AFP/Getty Images
Flood victims clean their goods outside their house after water receded from their homes in the river bank slum.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Flood victims clean their goods outside their house after water receded from their homes in the river bank slum.
AFP/Getty Images
A man uses a bicycle to transport a sofa chair in Tomana slum following floods that submerged 80% of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A man uses a bicycle to transport a sofa chair in Tomana slum following floods that submerged 80% of Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
A family gathers on the roof of a home in Calumpit town, north of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A family gathers on the roof of a home in Calumpit town, north of Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Residents commute Saturday along a flooded stretch of road in Calumpit.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents commute Saturday along a flooded stretch of road in Calumpit.
AFP/Getty Images
Children play at an evacuation center at a municipal building Friday in the township of Paombong on the outskirts of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Children play at an evacuation center at a municipal building Friday in the township of Paombong on the outskirts of Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
A pedicab driver sleeps on his vehicle along a flooded street in Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A pedicab driver sleeps on his vehicle along a flooded street in Manila.
Getty Images
A woman holds a crying baby as she and thousands of flood victims line up for food relief at a municipal building in Paombong.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A woman holds a crying baby as she and thousands of flood victims line up for food relief at a municipal building in Paombong.
AFP/Getty Images
Philippine army corp engineers clear mud and debris from a street in a Manila suburb on Friday, August 10, after days of heavy rain and flooding.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Philippine army corp engineers clear mud and debris from a street in a Manila suburb on Friday, August 10, after days of heavy rain and flooding.
AFP/Getty Images
Residents line up for relief goods to arrive Friday in Malabon, a suburb of Manila. It's monsoon season in the Philippines, but the recent Tropical Storm Haikui has exacerbated the rain and flooding.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents line up for relief goods to arrive Friday in Malabon, a suburb of Manila. It's monsoon season in the Philippines, but the recent Tropical Storm Haikui has exacerbated the rain and flooding.
AFP/Getty Images
A girl eyes floodwaters Friday from a restaurant in Apalit outside Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A girl eyes floodwaters Friday from a restaurant in Apalit outside Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
A resident cleans her mud-stained belongings Friday in suburban Manila. The weather has affected more than 2.4 million people, officials said.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A resident cleans her mud-stained belongings Friday in suburban Manila. The weather has affected more than 2.4 million people, officials said.
AFP/Getty Images
Filipinos step down from a truck Friday after crossing through floodwaters in Apalit outside Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Filipinos step down from a truck Friday after crossing through floodwaters in Apalit outside Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
A resident shovels mud from his house Friday in the village of Tumana.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A resident shovels mud from his house Friday in the village of Tumana.
AFP/Getty Images
Philippine army corp engineers help residents clean streets Friday in a Manila suburb. It may take weeks for waters to recede in the lower-lying areas, forecasters say.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Philippine army corp engineers help residents clean streets Friday in a Manila suburb. It may take weeks for waters to recede in the lower-lying areas, forecasters say.
AFP/Getty Images
Thousands line up for food relief Friday in Paombong outside Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Thousands line up for food relief Friday in Paombong outside Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
A man crosses the floodwaters on a rope in Pasig City, east of Manila, on Thursday, August 9.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A man crosses the floodwaters on a rope in Pasig City, east of Manila, on Thursday, August 9.
Landov
A road was wiped out by flash flooding in Antipolo City, east of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A road was wiped out by flash flooding in Antipolo City, east of Manila.
Landov
Residents wade through floodwaters caused by monsoon rains in Catmon, Malabon, north of metro Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents wade through floodwaters caused by monsoon rains in Catmon, Malabon, north of metro Manila.
Reuters/Landov
Children slog through floodwaters in Pasig City, east of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Children slog through floodwaters in Pasig City, east of Manila.
Landov
Residents move through chest-high floodwaters in Marikina City, east of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents move through chest-high floodwaters in Marikina City, east of Manila.
Landov
Flood victims rest on an inflated bed on Thursday at a flooded school turned into a temporary evacuation center.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Flood victims rest on an inflated bed on Thursday at a flooded school turned into a temporary evacuation center.
Landov
A Department of National Defense aerial photograph shows floodwaters in Navotas city, north of Manila, on Wednesday, August 8.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A Department of National Defense aerial photograph shows floodwaters in Navotas city, north of Manila, on Wednesday, August 8.
Reuters/Landov
Residents of Marikina City in suburban Manila fill a school building serving as a flood evacuation center on Thursday.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents of Marikina City in suburban Manila fill a school building serving as a flood evacuation center on Thursday.
AFP/Getty Images
Flood victims take shelter in a church used as an evacuation center in Quezon City, suburban Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Flood victims take shelter in a church used as an evacuation center in Quezon City, suburban Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Weary crowds gathered to receive relief goods Thursday from the evacuation center based at the Nangka Elementary School in Marikina.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Weary crowds gathered to receive relief goods Thursday from the evacuation center based at the Nangka Elementary School in Marikina.
AFP/Getty Images
Rain continued to falls as flood victims line up to receive relief goods at the Marikina evacuation center.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Rain continued to falls as flood victims line up to receive relief goods at the Marikina evacuation center.
AFP/Getty Images
Philippine police rescue teams prepare boats to evacuate residents in a suburb of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Philippine police rescue teams prepare boats to evacuate residents in a suburb of Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Rescue workers help people return to their home near a river that overflowed in the Manila suburb of San Mateo, Rizal.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Rescue workers help people return to their home near a river that overflowed in the Manila suburb of San Mateo, Rizal.
AFP/Getty Images
A boy stands on a basketball backboard among flooded homes in San Mateo, Rizal.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A boy stands on a basketball backboard among flooded homes in San Mateo, Rizal.
AFP/Getty Images
Residents commute through floodwaters in Cainta town in Rizal province, on Thursday.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents commute through floodwaters in Cainta town in Rizal province, on Thursday.
AFP/Getty Images
Philippines army soldiers assist people during heavy rains north of Manila on Wednesday, August 8.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Philippines army soldiers assist people during heavy rains north of Manila on Wednesday, August 8.
AFP/Getty Images
A group of Filipino farm workers huddles beneath a bridge north of Manila on Wednesday. Flooding caused by 10 days of torrential rains, worsened by the overflowing of three dams, has paralyzed 80% of the city. More than 70 people have died and 263,000 residents have been displaced.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A group of Filipino farm workers huddles beneath a bridge north of Manila on Wednesday. Flooding caused by 10 days of torrential rains, worsened by the overflowing of three dams, has paralyzed 80% of the city. More than 70 people have died and 263,000 residents have been displaced.
AFP/Getty Images
Houses swamped by floodwaters in Bulacan province, north of Manila, in an aerial photograph released by the Department of National Defense on Wednesday.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Houses swamped by floodwaters in Bulacan province, north of Manila, in an aerial photograph released by the Department of National Defense on Wednesday.
Reuters/Landov
Filipino flood evacuees crowd around a truck giving out donated bread at an evacuation center in Marikina City, east of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Filipino flood evacuees crowd around a truck giving out donated bread at an evacuation center in Marikina City, east of Manila.
Landov
A child, one of the thousands of residents affected by the severe floodings, sleeps next to the family's dog at a temporary evacuation center.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A child, one of the thousands of residents affected by the severe floodings, sleeps next to the family's dog at a temporary evacuation center.
AFP/Getty Images
Residents use a coffin as a boat in floodwaters in Quezon city, Metro Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents use a coffin as a boat in floodwaters in Quezon city, Metro Manila.
Reuters/Landov
Residents are evacuated from their flooded homes in the village of Tumana, Marikina town, in suburban Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents are evacuated from their flooded homes in the village of Tumana, Marikina town, in suburban Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Residents cross floodwaters Wednesday during heavy flooding in Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents cross floodwaters Wednesday during heavy flooding in Manila.
Getty Images
A Manila resident pulls his dog to a rooftop refuge. More than 800,000 people in and around the Philippines capital battle deadly floods as more rain falls, with neck-deep waters trapping both slum dwellers and the wealthy elite on rooftops.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A Manila resident pulls his dog to a rooftop refuge. More than 800,000 people in and around the Philippines capital battle deadly floods as more rain falls, with neck-deep waters trapping both slum dwellers and the wealthy elite on rooftops.
Residents look at vehicles washed up by floodwaters.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents look at vehicles washed up by floodwaters.
Getty Images
Displaced residents rest at an evacuation center inside a church in suburban Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Displaced residents rest at an evacuation center inside a church in suburban Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Volunteers bag relief goods for flood victims in Bulacan, north of Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Volunteers bag relief goods for flood victims in Bulacan, north of Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Rescuers maneuver down a flooded street as they evacuate residents in the village of Tumana in suburban Manila on Tuesday, August 7, after torrential rains inundated most of the capital.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Rescuers maneuver down a flooded street as they evacuate residents in the village of Tumana in suburban Manila on Tuesday, August 7, after torrential rains inundated most of the capital.
AFP/Getty Images
Aaron Demesa, an iReporter, took this image Tuesday of the North Luzon Expressway in the Manila village of Balintawak.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Aaron Demesa, an iReporter, took this image Tuesday of the North Luzon Expressway in the Manila village of Balintawak.
courtesy Aaron Demesa
A man tries to cross floodwaters by following a rope as other residents wait on their roofs in Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A man tries to cross floodwaters by following a rope as other residents wait on their roofs in Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Residents wait for family members to be rescued at the end of a flooded street in the village of Tumana, a suburb of Manila on Tuesday, August 7.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Residents wait for family members to be rescued at the end of a flooded street in the village of Tumana, a suburb of Manila on Tuesday, August 7.
AFP/Getty Images
A resident pushes his bicycle through floodwaters in Quezon City in suburban Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A resident pushes his bicycle through floodwaters in Quezon City in suburban Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
A man clutches a pole in floodwaters after a river overflowed following torrential rain in Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A man clutches a pole in floodwaters after a river overflowed following torrential rain in Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
A rescuer guides a man carrying his daughter on his back through a strong current.
Flooding in the Philippines —
A rescuer guides a man carrying his daughter on his back through a strong current.
AFP/Getty Images
Motorists and passengers are trapped on the North Luzon Expressway as heavy rains continue Tuesday in Valenzuela City.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Motorists and passengers are trapped on the North Luzon Expressway as heavy rains continue Tuesday in Valenzuela City.
Reuters/Landov
Two men hang onto a basketball hoop in deep floodwaters in Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Two men hang onto a basketball hoop in deep floodwaters in Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Rescuers dig through the rubble of a landslide caused by flooding as they try to rescue victims in Quezon City in suburban Manila.
Flooding in the Philippines —
Rescuers dig through the rubble of a landslide caused by flooding as they try to rescue victims in Quezon City in suburban Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Rescue workers prepare to unload residents in the village of Tumana after their homes were flooded.
Floodwaters rise around Philippines capital —
Rescue workers prepare to unload residents in the village of Tumana after their homes were flooded.
AFP/Getty Images
Residents seek shelter on the roofs of their homes as floodwaters continue to rise in Manila.
Floodwaters rise around Philippines capital —
Residents seek shelter on the roofs of their homes as floodwaters continue to rise in Manila.
AFP/Getty Images
Residents wait on the roofs of buildings as rescuers make their way down a flooded street in Tumana.
Floodwaters rise around Philippines capital —
Residents wait on the roofs of buildings as rescuers make their way down a flooded street in Tumana.
AFP/Getty Images
Rescuers in rubber boats evacuate residents from their homes in Tumana.
Floodwaters rise around Philippines capital —
Rescuers in rubber boats evacuate residents from their homes in Tumana.
AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Flooding in the Philippines

Story highlights

Flooding has affected more than 2.4 million people

August is the wettest month of the year in the nation

It could take weeks for the waters to recede in the lower-lying areas

CNN  — 

The death toll from floods in the Philippines soared to 85, authorities said Sunday, following days of torrential rainfall that has affected more than 2 million people.

Most of the deaths were from drowning and landslides associated with the week of flooding, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Others died from electrocution or in landslides associated with the rain and floods.

Floods have affected more than 2.4 million people in 144 municipalities so far, officials said.

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video

Related video Manila starts to clean up after floods

Residents look at vehicles washed up by floodwaters in Manila on August 8, 2012.
Residents look at vehicles washed up by floodwaters in Manila on August 8, 2012.
AFP/Getty Images
video

Related video More rain pours down on Manila

August is generally the wettest month of the year, and days of rain drenched have drenched the area.

It could take weeks for waters to recede in the lower-lying areas, forecasters said.

Heavy rains and winds have lashed the Philippines in recent weeks after Tropical Storm Saola plowed past it before hitting Taiwan and China recently. Flood waters have inundated various areas, including Manila and nearby provinces.

In December, Tropical Storm Washi left more than 1,200 people dead after it set off flash floods that swept away entire villages in the southern Philippines.

What’s behind major flood disasters throughout Asia?