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Odyssey in flooded Manila and final escape on Sep 27
Last Saturday, September 26, when I returned from AC, I had to pass through MNL Nino Aquino Airport to get on my flight to Hong Kong. But my pleasure journey to the Philippines ended up in an adventure trip. On the way to the airport, we already had heavy rain, starting in the Manila suburbs. The roads were partially flooded up to one foot deep. Then, at the airport, we had to wait for six hours, only to learn that our flights were canceled due to a typhoon. During the waiting, for about three hours, Nino Aquino Airport was without electricity, due to flooded electrical installations.
When it became clear that we had to stay another day, the Airline (CX) was kind enough to book hotel rooms for us in the city. Actually, up to my knowledge they are not obliged to do so, if the reason for cancellation is beyond their control and due to "Force Majeure".
At 7PM - nine hours after arriving at the airport - we could finally board the minivan that should bring us to the hotel in Makati. But what followed was another nine hours squeezed in the minivan. We could not get through to the hotel due to other broken down vehicles and totally congested roads. So, our driver tried about a dozen approaches to get through to the hotel. We drove through countless streets, small and very narrow ones, with no light - but a lot of water. In some parts, the water was up to about 2.5 feet deep, and our car got several times almost stuck. Once, we were completely stuck. Had there not been two or three filipino boys who pushed us out of the desperation, we would have had to leave the car, carry our luggage and walk through the floods - but where? So, all in all, we were very lucky. After about three ours of driving through deep waters, we got on a larger road with less water - but only to get now totally stuck in a gigantic traffic congestion. Cars, trucks, and buses were broken down and blocked a major part of the road, so that the still operating vehicles could almost not pass.
Every 10 minutes we could advance a few yards in a stop-and go-operation. Altogether, it took us another six hours to escape the congestion. Finally, we arrived at the hotel, where we checked in at 4AM. But most of us had to get up already within one or two hours again (I was lucky and had four hours of strongly needed sleep).
In the morning, we were brought back to the airport. Now, the return from the hotel took us only 25 minutes, instead of the nine hours to the hotel yesterday night. But the airport was in an incredible chaos. MNL airport is anyway deeply chaotic and unorganized already under normal circumstances. But on this day, this chaos was power three. Again, with some luck and thanks to the ever friendly help of the CX ground staff (big compliment!), I managed to get again through check-in, immigration, security check, and on board. CX had flewn in 3 aircrafts B747 from other routes, in order to collect the double number of passengers than usual. I finally got on the first flight, and when on board, I felt happy to have escaped such a calamity without major damage.
I feel sorry for the poor people in the Philippines, Manila and the other affected provinces. They still suffer a lot, while I am back home, able to write this report and send it through an unaffected Internet line, from a dry place.
During the nighttime odyssey through Manila, I took a few pictures, which I attach to give you an impression of what the residents there had and have to suffer.
Wonderer
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Odyssey in flooded Manila and final escape on Sep 27 (part 2)
Here a few more pics...
Wonderer
