Massive Trash Swamp Drowns Manila River After Nine‑Day Storm

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:26:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A nine‑day deluge in Manila turned a city river into a floating landfill, flooding streets and killing 16 people while workers waded through tons of waste.

Heavy rains and tropical storms hit Manila for nine days, delivering more than a month’s worth of precipitation. The storm’s flooding turned the Pasig river into a floating garbage heap, forcing emergency crews to shovel out discarded plastic, metal and household items. The disastrous weather shut schools and offices across Luzon and caused landslides and accidents, leading to at least 16 fatalities in the northern Philippines.

Massive Trash Swamp Drowns Manila River After Nine‑Day Storm

Workers waded through the Pasig River, cutting throat‑deep piles of plastic bottles, food packaging and household waste that washed in during a nine‑day downpour. The heavy rains were on the high end of what the region typically sees in a month, crushing the drainless system of the city’s river network.

The deluge triggered widespread flooding in Manila, closed schools, shut down government offices and caused landslides and road accidents that killed at least 16 people across the northern islands of Luzon. Residents described the river as a “moving trash pile” that rose to their houses’ doors as garbage, broken glass and even vehicles floated on its muddy surface.

Local authorities have mobilised sanitation teams to clear the river and prevent the build‑up from turning the waterway into a permanent landfill. While the cleanup continues, environmental activists are calling for stricter waste‑management enforcement to prevent future waterway tragedies.

The Incidents Captured: BBC News