Six Magat Dam gates to be opened until 5:30 p.m. on Saturday

RAMON, Isabela – Residents along the Magat River and Cagayan River have been advised to take precautions as operators of Magat Dam discharges reservoir water until 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 19).

Magat operators are trying to ease pressure on the reservoir due to sustained rains that have been dumped in the province for the past three days, said Harold Cabreros, Cagayan director of the Office of Civil Defense and chair of the Cagayan Valley regional disaster risk-reduction management council.

Four spill gates released water at the rate of 1,455 cubic meters per second (cms) as of 3 p.m. The discharge rate will increase to 2,360 cms by 5 p.m. when two more gates are opened.

Cabreros urged local governments to undertake pre-emptive evacuation, if necessary. VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.