Images capturing the scale of the environmental and humanitarian disaster are emerging from the Philippines, where days of torrential rain have caused flooding, landslides, and massive damage to infrastructure.
In Paranaque, in the Manila metropolitan area, cleanup crews faced particularly difficult conditions, as they had to wade through deep, contaminated water filled with trash to remove the accumulated debris that was blocking the flow of water in rivers and canals.
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Manila begins cleanup of trash-choked river after days of heavy rain.
Workers in the Philippines wade through a garbage-filled river in the capital Manila, collecting waste and debris that washed into the waterway during days of heavy rain pic.twitter.com/erRK4EGA39
Advertisement— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 12, 2026
The continuous torrential rains that had been battering the region for more than a week swept away large volumes of trash, causing it to accumulate in the rivers and canals of the coastal city.
In several areas, the trash covered nearly the entire surface of the water.
Cleanup crews are working under extremely difficult conditions, using cranes, excavators, boats, and large dumpsters to remove the accumulated trash.
The images also highlight a chronic waste management problem in the area. A 2021 study had shown that the nearby Pasig River is a major source of plastic waste that ends up in the sea.
Stricter fines on the table
As crews continue their extensive cleanup efforts, the relevant authorities are moving to strengthen penalties for those who illegally dump trash.
“This is not the situation the government wants. We want properly maintained waterways where water can flow freely,” said a spokesperson for the country’s president.
The accumulation of trash in canals and rivers further exacerbates the situation during periods of extreme rainfall, as it hinders the normal flow of water.
More than 500,000 people were affected
The effects of the severe weather extend far beyond Manila. More than 500,000 people in 33 provinces across the Philippines were affected by the monsoon, the intensity of which was exacerbated by two tropical cyclones.
Approximately 98,000 people were forced to flee their homes, while hundreds of homes were damaged.
At the same time, tens of thousands of residents were evacuated to emergency shelters.
Additionally, there are fatalities, missing persons, and injuries resulting from floods and landslides. Most of the casualties were reported in the provinces of Benguet, Rizal, and Batangas on the island of Luzon.
Four Dead in a Landslide in Baguio
In the mountain town of Baguio, four people lost their lives and six are missing after a landslide buried homes.
Rainfall in the area reached extremely high levels. According to Dan Villamil, a meteorologist with the national weather service, a total of 1,413.2 millimeters of rain was recorded in Baguio from August 1 through August 9.
This amount is 47% higher than the average rainfall recorded in the city for the entire month of August, which is approximately 963.2 millimeters.
At the same time, areas of Metro Manila had already received rainfall amounting to about 90% of the typical rainfall for the entire month of August.
About 20 storms and typhoons each year
The Philippines is among the countries most exposed to severe weather events, as its geographical location often brings it face-to-face with tropical storms and typhoons.
It is estimated that approximately 20 such events affect the country each year.
A large portion of the population lives in high-risk areas, where heavy rainfall can cause widespread flooding and landslides. The consequences are not limited to material damage but significantly impact citizens’ daily lives, local communities, and economic activity.
At the same time, global climate change caused by human activity is believed to be exacerbating the situation. According to the scientific community, climate change may intensify certain extreme weather events, making them more severe or longer-lasting and increasing the risks to vulnerable areas.
