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Marikina River nears 'Ondoy' water level


As Typhoon Pedring continues to dump torrential rains over Luzon on its way out of the country Tuesday, Marikina River’s water level swelled past 19 meters, or four meters short of the level it reached when Tropical Storm Ondoy inundated the metropolis in September 2009. Yves Gonzalez, communications group head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, said on his Twitter account (@doblezeta) that the water level of Marikina River was recorded at 19.13 meters as of 5:40 p.m., prompting local officials to sound out a fifth alarm. In comparison, the current water level of the river is more or less just four meters away from its level around the same period in 2009 when Ondoy unleashed its wrath, pegged at a record 23 meters above sea level. Of 500 people killed by Ondoy, 68 came 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 P11 billion worth of crops and infrastructure damaged in its wake. However, Gonzalez gave some assurance that the water level seemed to have stopped from rising further as it remained steady starting at 5:30 p.m. "The rise of water level in Sto Nino Marikina River has slowed down. Frm around .1 meters every 10 mins., it's now at .01 meters last 10 mins," he said. In a tweet later during the day, he announced "a bit of good news" that the "Sto. Nino Marikina river water level has stayed d same from 5:30 to 5:40pm. Steady at 19.13meters."

Courtesy of Yves Gonzalez (@doblezeta)of MMDA.
2,130 families in evac sites Latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) data as of 4 p.m. showed that 2,130 families or 10,789 people from five villages have already fled their homes near the river and have sought shelter inside four evacuations sites. These sites include the Nangka Elementary School, Concepcion Elementary School, Concepcion Integrated School, Bulelak gymnasium, and Malanday Elementary School. Marikina Rescue 161 records 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 were recorded as of this posting.
Traffic View of Marikina River Marcos highway as of 4:32pm. Courtesy of Yves Gonzalez (@doblezeta)of MMDA.
Marikina City Authorities observe the following rules in sounding out alarms:
  • Alarm Level 1: Water level from 15 to 16 meters (Warning)
  • Alarm Level 2: Water level above 16 to 17 meters (Prepare to leave)
  • Alarm Level 3: Water level beyond 17 meters (Voluntary Evacuation).
  • Alarm Level 4: Water level beyond 18 meters (Forced Evacuation)
  • Alarm Level 5: Water level beyond 19 meters.
— PE/VS, GMA News
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