Second alarm raised at Marikina River as water reaches 16 meters due to Paeng rains

The Marikina City government raised the second alarm at Marikina River at 1:50 p.m. on Saturday as the water level rose due to heavy rains from Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae).

The water level was observed to reach 16 meters at 1:50 p.m., rising to 17.1 meters by 7:08 p.m.

With the second alarm, residents must evacuate low-lying and flood-prone areas.

All eight floodgates of Manggahan Floodway are open, according to the Marikina City Public Information Office.

The local government unit also said rainfall upstream was measured as follows:

• Mt. Campana: 11 mm
• Mt. Boso Boso: 16 mm
• Mt. Aries: 21 mm
• Mt. Oro: 32 mm
• Nangka: 22 mm
• Total: 102 mm

Under the city's alarm level system, the first alarm is raised when the water level reaches 15 meters above sea level. This means residents have to "prepare."

The second alarm is raised when the water reaches 16 meters (residents must evacuate), and the third alarm when the water reaches 18 meters (forced evacuation).

The first alarm was raised at 12:03 p.m. after the water level reached 15 meters on Saturday.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is in effect over Metro Manila, according to PAGASA's 2 p.m. bulletin.

PAGASA said heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be likely over Metro Manila on Saturday as Paeng continues to track westward. —KG, GMA News