Marikina River alert level downgraded to first alarm as water goes down after Paeng onslaught

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

As of 10:05 a.m., the Marikina Public Information Office said the water level in the river was at 15.8 meters.

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.”

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

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

In a separate advisory, the Marikina PIO said the water level of the river went back to normal on Sunday afternoon.

At 3 p.m., the water level was at 14.7 meters, with all gates of the Manggahan Floodway still open.

According to PAGASA’s 11 a.m. bulletin, four areas in Luzon were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2. Meanwhile, Metro Manila is still under TCWS No. 1.

PAGASA said Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Camarines Provinces, Western Visayas, and the rest of Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon may have light to moderate with at times heavy rains on Sunday.

The center of Paeng was estimated to be located at 225 km west northwest of Iba, Zambales or 240 km west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.

Paeng is moving west northwestward at 25 km/h. —Mel Matthew Doctor/KG, GMA News