La Mesa Dam overflows amid heavy rains

The water level of La Mesa Dam in Quezon City has reached beyond its spilling level on Wednesday amid the heavy rains.

As of 5 p.m., data from state weather bureau PAGASA showed that the dam’s water level has reached 80.18 meters, which is 0.03 meters above the spilling level of 80.15 meters. 

But this is still lower than the 80.2 meters recorded at 8 a.m. earlier in the day. 

“Dahil tuloy-tuloy yung mga pag-ulan sa watershed ng La Mesa, so nag-start na siyang mag-overflow. And hanggang sa ngayon, tuloy-tuloy pa rin yung pag-overflow ng La Mesa Dam,” said PAGASA hydrologist Richard Orendain in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB. 

(Due of the continuous rains in La Mesa watershed, it started to overflow. Until now, the overflowing in La Mesa Dam continues.) 

According to PAGASA, overflowing of La Mesa Dam affects low-lying areas along Tullahan River from Quezon City (Fairview, Forest Hills Subdivision, Quirino Highway, Sta. Quiteria, and San Bartolome), Valenzuela (North Expressway, La Huerta Subdivision), and Malabon. 

“Dahil medyo may katagalan na, dahil nagsimula siya nung madaling araw pa hanggang sa kasalukuyan umaapaw pa rin, so malaki na ang epekto nito sa Tullahan River. Although bago pa man umapaw itong La Mesa Dam, dati ng may mga baha, downstream ng Tullahan River,” said Orendain. 

(Due to the rains have been happening since early morning, the overflowing has a huge impact on the Tullahan River. Even before the overflowing of La Mesa Dam, there were already floods downstream of Tullahan River.)

Orendain also said that PAGASA is monitoring other dams as well.

While the water from La Mesa Dam does not directly go into the Marikina River, the city’s disaster risk reduction and management office said the rise in water level at Pasig River has also an impact on the latter’s water level.

Severe Tropical Storm Enteng has exited the country in the morning, but PAGASA said that the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will also bring moderate to intense rainfall in other areas of Luzon over the next three days.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News