Marikina River exceeds water level limit

The water level of Marikina River exceeded its limits of 20 meters at 2:03 p.m., according to the Marikina Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Marikina River was raised to the third alarm after the water level rose to 18 meters at 10 a.m., prompting a forced evacuation of residents.

In an interview at Super Radyo dzBB, Marikina Mayor Marcilo Teodoro said the increase in Marikina River’s water level was similar to what the city experienced during Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009.

He said the local government has been giving food, water, and medicine to its evacuees from seven barangays situated at the river's border.

“Nabigla ang lahat. Nag evacuate sila (nang) hindi pa nakapangtanghalian. Sana tumigil ang ulan,” Teodoro said.

(Everyone was taken aback because they were evacuated before they were able to have lunch. I hope the rain stops.)

He added that dredging the Marikina River helped expand its capacity, but noted that it is still not enough to hold the heavy rains.

Teodoro also said their evacuation centers are in need of additional food, medicines, drinking waters, blankets, and volunteers, especially medical workers.

Second alarm was raised at 6:45 a.m. as the water level increased to 16 meters. This means residents should “evacuate.” 

At 5:30 a.m., first alarm was hoisted as the water level reached 15 meters. This means residents should “prepare.”

The water level in Marikina River continues to rise due to the heavy rainfall brought by the Southwest Monsoon which is being enhanced by Typhoon Carina. 

PAGASA said Signal No. 2 is still hoisted over Batanes while Signal No. 1 is raised over Babuyan Islands, northern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.  —Mariel Celine Serquiña/ VAL, GMA Integrated News