Water levels in 4 Luzon dams still rising

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Four major reservoirs in Luzon are still registering rising water levels on Monday, July 30, due to rain brought by the combined effects of tropical storm Gener (international codename Saola) and the Southwest Monsoon.

The water levels of the reservoirs behind Angat, Ambuklao, Pantabangan, and Magat dams rose between 6 a.m. and 12 noon, the Hydrometeorological Division of the state weather bureau Pagasa said.

These are the current reservoir water levels, compared to the normal high water levels (NHWL), in the said dams as of noon:

• Angat Dam: 193.71 m (210.00 m)
• Ambuklao Dam: 750.33 m (745.00 m)
• Pantabangan Dam: 204.69 m (221.00 m)
• Magat Dam: 189.88 m (190.00 m)

Meanwhile, the water level at Ipo Dam in Bulacan has gone down, from 100.66 m at 6 am to 100.34 m by noon.

The dam’s gates, opened since 1:50 a.m, were closed at 12.05 p.m. The Ipo Dam in Bulacan released water 3 times Monday morning, prompting renewed calls for evacuation of residents in the nearby communities, particularly Hagonoy and Norzagaray, according to an early morning report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NRRMC).

This water will flow to the Tullahan River area near La Mesa, threatening Quezon City, Malabon and Valenzuela.

The water level at the La Mesa Dam also went down, from 79.85 m at 6 am to 79.83 m by noon.

Binga, San Roque, and Caliraya Dams also saw decreasing water levels in their reservoirs within the said 6-hour period. Bustos Dam also opened 2 gates to release excess water from its reservoir since 5 am.

Meanwhile, authorities are closely watching the water level at the Marikina River, which has risen as of 9 a.m. to 16.4 m. This prompted an alarm level 2, which recommends citizens evacuation, especially in Malanday and Tumana.

Alert level 2 is the second highest of four alerts: 3 stands for voluntary evacuation and 4 — beyond 18 m — will entail forced evacuation.

Pagasa warning

Tropical storm Gener has slowed down slightly as it continued to move towards the northwest, bringing rain over large areas of the country. ‘Gener’ is expected to enhance the Southwest monsoon that will bring rains over the regions.

Pagasa alerted citizens living in low lying and mountainous areas under storm signal warnings and affected by the monsoon possible flashfloods and landslides.

Those living in coastal areas under storm signal 2 should watch out for big waves or storm surges, and fishing boats were advised to not venture out to sea.

According to the state weather bureau, the estimated rainfall amount within the 700km diameter of the tropical storm is 12-25 mm per hour (heavy-intense).

The next bulletin will be issued at 5 p.m.

3 dead, damaged roads and bridges

‘Gener’ has so far caused three fatalities. The NDRRMC said a 33-year-old man drowned in Bugasong, Antique; while the local government of Rosario, Cavite said the body of an unidentified person, believed to be a fisherman, was found in their town.

The third fatality was Ernest Flores, 60, a passenger on the M/V Shuttle ferry ran aground at Looc, Romblon on Sunday evening, July 29. 

The weather disturbance also caused damage on 5 roads and 4 bridges in the provinces of Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Cagayan, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro, the NDRRMC said.

A total of 17 domestic flights have also been cancelled on Monday morning, the disaster response agency said in its latest situation report. The Manila International Airport Authority, on the other hand, reported 12 flights diverted to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) due to bad weather at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. An additional 8 flights were delayed.

It reported that 28,631 people across 4 regions in Luzon and Visayas have been affected by the tropical storm, with 14,303 of them being assisted by the agency.

Classes have been suspended by numerous local government units and schools in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon.

Power failure was also reported in parts of Catanduanes, Negros Oriental, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon City. – Rappler.com