Fifty-eight people were reportedly trapped in their houses in Ermita, Manila early Thursday morning, when a wall collapsed due to strong winds and incessant rain brought by typhoon Ulysses.
According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, it was past 2:00 a.m. when the wall collapses near Santa Monica Street corner MH Del Pilar Street, Barangay 668 while at the height of Typhoon Ulysses’ onslaught.
Kenneth Amurao, the director of the Department of Public Service (DPS) said there are homes with 58 individuals living next to the wall.
Mayor’s Chief of Staff Cesar Chavez said the authorities immediately conducted a rescue operation in the area and rescued the trapped residents safely, even though the rescuers were struggling and battered by strong winds with heavy rains as the area is close to Manila Bay in Roxas Boulevard.
The rescued residents were brought to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guidance church in Ermita..