5,000 residents flee as Alarm Level 4 raised in Marikina

Forced evacuation of over 5,000 residents has started in Marikina after the city government on Tuesday afternoon sounded the fourth alarm due to continuous rain spawned by Typhoon Pedring. Data obtained by GMA News Online from the "Marikina Rescue 161" office showed that Alarm Level 4 was raised after a portion of the Marikina River in Barangay Sto. Niño further swelled to 18.8 meters as of 3:40 p.m.

Water level at the Marikina River as of 2 p.m. of September 27, 2011. Marikina City Council

Local officials said a total of 1,116 families or 5,398 individuals have been evacuated and are seeking shelter inside five evacuation sites in the city, namely:

Nangka Elementary School: 404 families or 1,600 people;

Concepcion Elementary School: 90 families or 600 people;

Concepcion Integrated School: 265 families or 1,436 individuals; and

Bulelak gymnasium: 159 families or 766 people;

Malanday Elementary School: 198 families or 996 individuals. Marikina Rescue 161 records also showed that a security guard was hurt and was rushed to the Amang ROdriguez Hospital after he was hit by a falling tree along Bonfacio Avenue at Barangay J. dela Peña. No fatalities have been recorded. The local government of Marikina earlier sounded a first alarm about 1:30 a.m. when the water level reached 15 meters. At around 9 a.m., the second alarm was sounded, and a third alarm was sounded shortly before noon after water exceeded 17 meters. Authorities in Marikina City observe the following rules in sounding alarms:

Alarm Level 1: Water level from 15 to 16 meters (Warning);

Alarm Level 2: Water level above 16 to 17 meters (Prepare);

Alarm Level 3: Water level beyond 17 meters (Voluntary Evacuate).

Alarm Level 4: Water level beyond 18 meters (Forced Evacuate) On its website, the Marikina City Council advised Marikeños to regularly check back on the site for updates about the water level and evacuation in the city. "Please advise Marikeños to regularly access www.marikinacitycouncil.co.cc for important information about Marikina River Water Level, Rainfall in Antipolo, Montalban and other watersheds and typhoon updates," it said. Water level at the river peaked at 23 meters during Tropical Storm Ondoy's rampage in September 2009, sending three-meter high floods to nearby communities. A total of 68 of the more than 500 people killed due to floods caused by Ondoy were from Marikina. The weather disturbance poured a record amount of rainfall over Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, affecting 4.8 million people and leaving damage to property amounting to P11 billion. — RSJ, GMA News