DOWNPOUR

Monsoons Threaten 1M in Manila

About 60 percent of the city affected.

Rain continued to flood the Philippine capital on Wednesday, adding to the damage wrought by 11 days of monsoons that has inundated 60 percent of Manila, turning streets into rivers. Rescue workers face new dangers as they rush emergency aid to almost one million people in the city. Nineteen people have been killed since Tuesday, bringing the total death toll to 72 since typhoon rains began in late July. At least 850,000 people are stranded or displaced at temporary shelters, according to the national disaster agency, which has been asking people living near riverbanks to evacuate. "If there is a need for us to force them to leave their homes, we will do that for their own safety," said Benito Ramos, head of the agency.