Residents near Angat Dam told: Evacuate as rush of water strong, risky
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Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. (INQUIRER file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — State meteorologists on Sunday warned residents living near Angat Dam in Bulacan province to evacuate their homes as the dam continues to release water amid possible rains from Tropical Depression Kabayan and the northeast monsoon.
According to the Hydrometeorology Division of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the rush of water from the dam’s spillway gates could be dangerous to residents living near the Angat River in Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliwag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Hagonoy, and Paombong.
“Inaabisuhan natin ang ating mga kababayan na nakatira diyan malapit sa ilog ng Angat na lumikas na po tayo dahil ang pagragasa ng tubig galing sa Angat Dam ay masyadong malakas at mapanganib kaya kung posible po ay umalis na po tayo sa mga lugar na iyan,” Pagasa Hydrologist Richard Orendain said in a press briefing.
(We are notifying our countrymen who live near the Angat River to evacuate because the rush of water from the Angat Dam is too strong and dangerous, so if possible let’s vacate those areas.)
READ: LPA east of Surigao del Sur now Tropical Depression Kabayan – Pagasa
In a 10 a.m. Sunday advisory, the weather bureau noted that the water level in Angat Dam was at 213 meters and continuously rising due to the “current weather system.” As of posting time, the dam is discharging water at 150 cubic meters per second (cms).
Angat Dam opened two of its spillway gates on Friday, December 15, and initially released water at 75 cms.
Ipo Dam likewise released water on Friday. State meteorologists said that as of 6 a.m. on Sunday, the dam’s water level reached 100.74 meters – lower than its normal high water level of 101 meters.
The discharge of water from Angat Dam occurred despite the request from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for the National Water Resources Board to allow the reservoir’s water level to reach 214 meters to serve as an extra buffer for its operations.
However, in a press briefing also on Sunday, Pagasa said the National Power Corporation (NPC) explained to them that the dam had to release water to preserve its structural integrity.
“Kailangan na natin mag-release ng tubig kasi mas malaking problema kapag nawasak itong dam natin. Ang paliwanag kasi ng NPC, malakas iyong inflow; malakas iyong mga pag-ulan within the watershed. Konting mga pag-ulan lang, nadadagdagan ang tubig sa Angat Dam,” Orendain continued.
(We need to release water because it will be a bigger problem if our dam is destroyed. The explanation of the NPC is that the inflow is strong; that the rains are strong within the watershed. Just a bit of rain and the water in Angat Dam increases.)
Pagasa said monitoring of the dams and Angat River will continue with the help of the NPC and Ipo Dam Management offices.
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