A typhoon swelled rivers and flooded low-lying areas as it passed over the storm-battered northeast Philippines, where rescuers were deployed early Thursday to help people flee the rising waters.
The typhoon passed north of Manila between Bulacan and Pampanga provinces, toppling trees and knocking out power.
Officials had said previously that nearly 200,000 people had been evacuated, some of them forcibly, from vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas.
Rescue teams were deployed to flooded areas in Rizal province near the capital, Adm. George Ursabia, the coast guard chief, told DZBB radio.
From the Rizal town of Rodriguez, resident Yolanda Laude called the radio station to ask to be rescued. "We're all on the roof. The water has risen high and reached our second floor. We've been here on the roof since 3 am, there are six families on our roof," she told DZBB, which asked for details of her location.
In Pasig city in metropolitan Manila, Carla May Juico and her family went up to the third and last floor of their house as the waters rose during the night. Now, the water has reached the third floor. "We're thinking of going to the roof. We'll asked to be rescued," she told DZBB by phone.
Marikina city Mayor Marcie Teodoro said the fierce winds knocked down power lines overnight, leaving many areas without power and internet connection. Heavy rains also flooded many areas and the Marikina River was swollen.
"There are many areas that historically don't get flooded but now, they are swamped like the city hall," he told DZBB radio.
