Cancelation of US Embassy operations Wednesday meant for people’s safety

United States embassy in Manila. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—While the compound of the United States Embassy was affected by the flooding on Roxas Boulevard, the cancelation of operations was not called for their own convenience, but for the sake of people waiting outside their office, its spokesperson said Wednesday.

The United States embassy in Manila earlier announced the termination of consular services in their offices before noon Wednesday after its compound was flooded due to strong waves from the Manila Bay.

“The U.S. Embassy will be closed today (August 1, 2012) due to flooding along Roxas Boulevard. Consular Services have been suspended in order to keep the public and our employees safe and dry,” it said in a statement posted in their website.

Both lanes along the embassy, particularly Quirino Avenue to Raja Sulayman, was likewise temporarily closed to traffic after its northbound and southbound lanes suffered thigh-high floods.

“If we are to estimate the affected area, it would be around 2 kilometers from Quezon Avenue to Raja Sulayman,” Reyes said, adding that the flooding started before 7 a.m.

In a phone interview with U.S. Embassy spokesperson Tina Malone, she clarified that their operations were called off not because of the situation inside their office, but “mainly because of what’s going on outside the embassy.”

“There are people lined up outside and they are standing in floodwaters high up to their knees, and we don’t want that,” Malone said, adding that the suspension of work before 8 a.m. were for the “safety and comfort of the people.”

“Inside the walls, we’re in good shape,” she said, adding that all office equipment were dry and that no parked vehicles were damaged.

U.S. Embassy said the Chancery Compound is also closed, although some Embassy offices will operate from the Seafront Compound.

For individuals with scheduled visa interviews, “the Consular Section will be in touch to reschedule those interviews in the coming few days,” it said.