Philippine authorities have appealed for help in getting relief to nearly two million people affected by deadly floods in and around the capital, Manila, warning that evacuation centres were overwhelmed.

After more than a month's worth of rain was dumped on Manila in 48 hours, entire districts remained submerged on Thursday although overflowing rivers had started to recede and neck-high waters seen earlier were typically down to knee-deep.

The state weather service also dropped its rain warning on Thursday afternoon for the sprawling city of 15 million people.

Disaster chiefs said the top priority was to help the 1.95 million people affected by the floods, as masses flocked to evacuation centres in search of food, water, medicine, clothes and dry place to sleep.

"We are repacking a lot of relief items, we need more help and are asking for more volunteers," Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman told AFP news agency.

"We have the food but we need to pack them, deliver and distribute them in this massive operation."

Soliman said many evacuation centres were not able to provide much-needed warm meals to the growing number of displaced.

FULL STORY & VIDEO: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/08/2012897652105729...

MORE VIDEO & PHOTOS: http://www.rt.com/news/philippine-floods-manila-metro-123/