Philippine officials are urgently sending relief supplies to hundreds of thousands of people affected by Typhoon Ketsana floods in and around Manila. 140 people were killed, and this number continues to increase.
Guests on a car stuck in the streets flooded with water in Manila because of the days-long rain caused by tropical storm Ketsana.
A boy swims on the street in Manila.
People are sheltering next to a highway in northern Manila waiting to be evacuated as flood waters rise in the outskirts of Bocaue.
The number of people killed by floodwaters rose to 140, while people began to get angry at the government's insufficient response.
Analysts say the case will affect the future of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, a candidate in the presidential election in May 2010.
Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who had a very low rate of support, asked to set up a rescue center in the presidential palace yesterday, two days after the floodwaters attacked Manila and neighborhoods.
Therefore, many people have condemned the government for slow response.
At least 450,000 people are affected, of which about 150,000 are homeless.
Authorities estimate that the economic damage from the worst ever rain in the Manila area is about $ 30 million.
Among them, more than one third is crop damage. The rest is due to damage to roads and bridges.
Authorities estimate the number of people killed still increases, while many are still looking for relatives trapped in houses flooded.
Ketsana storm swept away the area in 410mm rainwater within 24 hours. This is the average amount of rain for a whole month.
President Arroyo calls this a "unique" storm.
While the floodwaters have been depleted in most areas in Manila, some parts of the city of 15 million people are still divided, mud and garbage covering the streets.
The school is still closed, but financial centers have been reopened yesterday and public transport has returned. The office, the store opened, but sparse people.
