Torrential rain over the weekend triggered the worst flooding the Philippines'
capital has seen in over four decades, submerging more than 80% of the city,
killing at least 246 people and displacing hundreds of thousands more.
The capital region is perched on a marshy isthmus that is crisscrossed with
streams and rivers. An ever-growing population — Manila is now a sprawling
mega-city of some 12 million people
Last weekend's flood was in large part the result of the capital's poor drainage
and sanitation systems, which have been neglected by several successive
administrations in power.
Plans have been afoot to improve sanitation and also relieve the population
burden in metro Manila by shifting certain businesses and government offices to
areas outside the dense capital region. But the challenge facing the Philippines
and other poor Asian countries is one of resources.
A man takes a break from cleaning a house that was swamped by
Tropical Storm Ketsana
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