Relentless rain drenched the northern Philippines, causing flooding in Manila and landslides in mountainous areas as Typhoon Gaemi intensified the seasonal monsoon.

In the densely populated capital, rescuers were deployed to evacuate residents from low-lying homes as streets turned into rivers.

People used small boats and shopping trolleys to navigate thigh-deep water. Government offices were shut, classes suspended, and over 70 flights canceled.

Peachy de Leon, a disaster official in Manila, noted the overwhelming number of people seeking help. The typhoon, moving towards Taiwan, intensified the typical southwest monsoon rains.

Over 200mm (8 inches) of rain fell in Manila in 24 hours, causing landslides in Batangas and Benguet provinces, resulting in the deaths of a pregnant woman and three children, and blocking major roads.

At least 12 people have died since Tuesday, with tens of thousands in evacuation centers, Al-Jazeera has reported.

Taiwan closed schools, suspended the stock market, and declared a typhoon holiday as Gaemi approached, with expected landfall in northeastern Taiwan by 10pm.

Authorities evacuated over 2,100 people from high-risk areas, suspended trains and ferry services, and canceled more than 250 international flights.

Written by B.C. Begley