What Caused the Typhoon Carina Floods?

Typhoon Carina slammed into the Philippines, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Schools and government offices closed, prices for basic goods were frozen, and countless lives were affected. But what caused the widespread flooding in and around the capital region that made the typhoon even more devastating?

Was it Failed Government Projects?

The government said it would finish building projects to stop floods by July. But when Typhoon Carina hit, these projects didn’t work very well.

Officials from the MMDA said 71 pumps were ready to suck up floodwater in Metro Manila. These pumps can handle rain falling at a rate of 30 millimeters per hour. But Typhoon Carina dropped 74 millimeters of rain per hour for almost 10 hours – more than double what the pumps could handle!

The MMDA blamed people for throwing garbage on the streets. Lots of videos online show how trash blocked drains and sewers. Even the area around the Senate building was flooded because of this.

READ – Flood Woes: Metro Manila Needs Better City Planning

On the other hand, in a text message to Senate reporters, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri claimed that it is the consequence of all the reclamation projects happening in Manila Bay. This caused some curious eyes to focus on Pasay City. However, upon the inspection of the DPWH Pasay and Pasay Engineering Department, the drainage system was found to be just clogged with huge amounts of trash, fallen debris, and an excessive amount of grease (sebo). Floodwater could not actually get to Manila Bay because of all the obstruction. The reclamation developments had nothing to do with the flooding.

Was it the Lack of Discipline?

Despite government efforts, it’s clear that many Filipinos still don’t properly dispose of their garbage. This problem is making it harder to control floods, and it was evident during typhoon Carina. Take a look at this photo from PNA:

We need to teach people better about throwing away trash and enforce stricter rules.

So, Who’s to Blame for the Flooding?

Looking at all this, it’s hard to say exactly who caused the flooding. Was it because people didn’t throw away their trash properly? Or did the government fail to build good flood control systems? Maybe it’s a combination of the two.

What do you think? Who should be held responsible for the damage caused by Typhoon Carina?