The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) documented a record amount of rainfall in 24 hours at 455 millimeters (mm) spawned by tropical storm “Ondoy” on Saturday that submerged huge portions of Metro Manila and Rizal.

According to weather specialist Mario Palafox, the amount of rainfall recorded from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8a.m. Sunday at the PAGASA Synoptic Station at the Science Garden in Quezon City exceeded the previous record of 334.5 mm rainfall documented on June 7, 1967.

Palafox said the amount of rainfall recorded in a span of six hours Saturday, which was at 341.3 mm, was comparable to the 24-hour rainfall recorded in 1967.

He said that in nine hours, the amount of rainfall was recorded at 410.6 mm, exceeding the quantity of rainfall in 1967.

The unusual amount of rain triggered massive flooding in Metro Manila that virtually submerged 90 percent of major thoroughfares.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said this was the worst flooding in recent memory.

“Grabe ang naging pagbulusok ng tubig, nung last na na-experience ang ganitong baha ay nuong 1970s pa,” said MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando. He advised the public to stay inside their homes to avoid traffic and any accident on the road.

According to the MMDA Metrobase, areas that remain flooded yesterday were España Boulevard, C.M. Recto Avenue, V. Mapa, Sampaloc, Sta. Mesa and Pureza area in Manila; Ortigas, Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pinagbuhatan, De Castro in Pasig City; Potrero and M.H. Del Pilar in Malabon; Nangka, Provident Village, Malanday, Parang, Amang Rodriguez in Marikina; Magallanes in Makati; Pasay City; some parts in Quezon City and most of Cainta in Rizal.

The massive rainfall experienced in many parts of Central Luzon also damaged some P145 million worth of infrastructures like roads and bridges, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported.

Romeo Momo, DPWH undersecretary for Luzon operations, said roads mostly damaged and impassable to motorists were in Metro Manila after 85 percent of the region was flooded.

“This is the first time that the entire Metro Manila sank because of continuous rains for six hours. It is like raining for a month that is why all the areas were under water from Taft Avenue, España, Blumentritt to Dapitan in Manila,” he said.

Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. mobilized all DPWH field personnel to conduct immediate repairs of the damaged roads and bridges in Luzon through the emergency funds released by the agency.