Marikina residents ready to return home as river level subsides

STRANDED. Marinduque-bound passengers wait out Typhoon “Pedring” in Talao-Talao port in Lucena City. DELFIN T. MALLARI, JR. / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines – As the water level in Marikina River subsides, residents who stayed in evacuation centers at the height of Typhoon “Pedring’s” onslaught prepare to go home, Mayor Del de Guzman said Wednesday.

The water level is down to 16.7 meters as of 8 a.m., after the rains stopped.

Authorities raised the fifth alarm Tuesday night as the Marikina River’s water level reached 19.7 meters last night, sending 16, 595 people to evacuation centers set up by the city  government.

“Most, after cleaning their flooded houses, would leave evacuation centers and home anytime today,” De Guzman said over the phone.

The city government has recorded one casualty, a police officer who suffered minor injuries after a tree fell on him.