Marikina River now on first alarm as water level goes down

The alert level at the Marikina River was downgraded to first alarm on Monday morning after the water level went down.

At 11:14 a.m., the water level reached 15.7 meters, the Marikina Public Information Office said.

All eight gates of the Manggahan Floodway were still open, it added.

The first alarm, which is raised whenever the water level reaches 15 meters above sea level, means "prepare".

City personnel started clearing the area by the riverbank on Monday morning.

Before midnight on Sunday, authorities raised the third alarm at Marikina River, which meant forced evacuation of residents along the riverside and low-lying areas, as Typhoon Karding dumped heavy rains.

The water level at Marikina River reached as high as 18.4 meters at 2 a.m. on Monday.

At 8 a.m. Monday, however, the water level went down to 16.9 meters, prompting authorities to downgrade the status to second alarm, which means "evacuate".

Karding exited the Luzon landmass on Monday morning and is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday night. —KG, GMA News