Antipolo bishop calls for prayers for victims of Carina, Habagat

Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos of Antipolo City, Rizal has called for prayers amid the widespread rains and flooding caused by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

“In moments of these natural calamities-excessive rains and floods-let us turn to God and cast our eyes afresh on Him,” said Santos on X (formerly Twitter).

“Let us pray unceasingly and full of hope. Let us humbly beg our almighty God in His mercy and power to pacify the rain, drain the flood waters, and grant strength to us, His beloved people affected by this monsoon rains and flooding, make us safe and recover from this hardships,” he said.

Several areas in Metro Manila remain flooded Thursday as Carina exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). However, the tropical cyclone will continue to enhance the Habagat, bringing moderate to intense rains over the western section of Luzon.

The National Capital Region is under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of the typhoon and the Habagat.

Latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed there were 14 fatalities due to the impact of Habagat as well as Tropical Cyclones Carina and Butchoy. Of the figures, eight were confirmed dead.

At least people were reported missing in Calabarzon and Northern Mindanao, and two were also reported injured in Northern Mindanao.

The NDRRMC said the heavy rainfall affected a total of 1,115,272 people or 245,298 families in all regions in the country except in Eastern Visayas. — Sundy Locus/RSJ, GMA Integrated News