Marikina River water level receding, but heavy rainfall still expected

MANILA, Philippines — Marikina River’s water level receded further as of 2:00 a.m. of Thursday, but rain showers due to the southwest monsoon have started to fall again over Rizal and other parts of Metro Manila.

Data from the Marikina City’s Public Information Office (Marikina PIO) showed that water level at the river is at 16.8 meters—down from 19.5 meters last 9:00 p.m. of July 24, Wednesday.

This means that the alert level at the Marikina River went down from the third alarm to the second alarm.

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

However, the entire Metro Manila and Rizal province are still on a yellow heavy rainfall warning alert — indicating that rain showers can hit the area again.

READ: Marikina River water level nears Ondoy threshold due to Carina

Higher levels at the Marikina River usually originate from upstream flow, or water coming down from Rizal’s mountainous areas like Antipolo City, Rodriguez, Tanay, and Baras.

On Wednesday, waters at the said river rose to as much as 20.7 meters — leading local officials to draw comparisons between Typhoon Carina which intensified the monsoon rains earlier, and Typhoon Ondoy which flooded Metro Manila in 2009.

READ: Metro Manila now under state of calamity due to Typhoon Carina

When Ondoy hit the country, water levels at the Marikina River were as high as 21.5 meters.

Despite water levels receding, classes at all levels and government work have been suspended in Marikina and the rest of Metro Manila, which has been placed under a state of calamity.

Earlier, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said at least 10,818 families in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone—or 46,116 individuals—were rescued and are currently staying in evacuation centers due to the floods caused by the southwest monsoon.