Marikina River water level nears Ondoy threshold due to Carina

Situation at the Marikina River as of 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24. | via Ram Nabong, INQUIRER.net

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MANILA, Philippines — The water level of the Marikina River on Wednesday afternoon reached over 20 meters, only less than a meter compared to the threshold recorded during Tropical Storm Ondoy.

As of 4:40 p.m., the Marikina’s Public Information Office said the water level of the Marikina River reached 20.7 meters due to heavy rains brought by Super Typhoon Carina and southwest monsoon or habagat.

READ: Carina intensifies into super typhoon — Pagasa 

It later subsided a bit at 20.6 meters as of 6 p.m., the city public information office said.

A water level of 21.5 meters was last recorded in 2009 during Ondoy, according to Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro.

Marikina bore the brunt of Ondoy, which claimed more than 700 lives in Metro Manila and other regions back on September 26, 2009.

Marikina River’s third alarm was reached at 10:00 a.m. at 18 meters, prompting a forced evacuation.

READ: Marikina River update: 3rd alarm up; forced evacuation on 

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Super Typhoon Carina

On Wednesday, Super Typhoon Carina enhanced the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” which is bringing heavy rains in Metro Manila and many parts of Luzon, according to the state weather bureau.

While not under any Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal, Metro Manila is reeling from the onslaught of the super typhoon.

The deluge of the typhoon and weather system rendered many main thoroughfares in Metro Manila impassable, which led to thousands of motorists being stranded.

Tens of thousands of residents in Metro Manila were also evacuated as floods left entire bungalows submerged, with some even seeing floods in the second story of their houses.